Youngsters Dripping Magic Mushroom Extract On Cigarettes Masac

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Malaysian Substance Abuse Council (Masac) secretary-general Raja Azizan Suhaimi said the trend marks a troubling shift in drug habits, with youths dripping the psychoactive liquid onto cigarettes, complicating enforcement efforts. COURTESY PICKUALA LUMPUR: Magic mushroom extracts are now being consumed not only through vape liquids but also by applying them directly to cigarette tobacco, Buletin Utama reported.
Malaysian Substance Abuse Council (Masac) secretary-general Raja Azizan Suhaimi said the trend marks a troubling shift in drug habits, with youths dripping the psychoactive liquid onto cigarettes, complicating enforcement efforts.
"They're no longer just using vapes. Some are dripping these liquids onto cigarettes," he said.
Raja Azizan said enforcement is futile if authorities focus solely on vape devices and ignore the contents sold openly in shops.
He said Masac had received complaints from parents about legal loopholes, particularly due to gaps in the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952.
"Even if arrests are made, it's pointless because their urine tests come back negative. As long as the substances are not officially gazetted, they won't be detected by test strips," he said.
Raja Azizan warned that the enforcement gap hinders legal action, as current test kits detect only substances listed under Health Ministry schedules.
According to police data, a total of 87 new psychoactive substances were listed under Acts 234 and 366 between 2015 and 2024, 43 under the Dangerous Drugs Act and 44 under the Poisons Act.
However, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has identified more than 1,245 such substances globally.
Federal Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Senior Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaki Ashar said they are hoping that all these dangerous chemicals can be registered.
"Once registered, we can test for them in urine and blood, making enforcement more effective," he said.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is being urged to play a stronger role in regulating vape liquids currently sold in the market, especially to prevent the abuse of such products by drug syndicates.
However, the Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) secretary-general Ridhwan Rosli cautioned against generalising the issue and placing blanket blame on the vape industry.
"Just because some have abused vapes by mixing in drugs, it doesn't mean everyone is doing the same.
"For the majority, electronic cigarettes are an alternative to tobacco. Abuse involving children must certainly be addressed, but it's heartbreaking when all vape users are perceived as drug addicts," the group added.
For the record, the vape industry was estimated to be worth over RM3.48 billion in 2023, involving more than 7,500 premises and over 31,500 workers. - NST

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