USM PENANG, 23 May 2025 – The Centre for Drug Research (CDR) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recently held a strategic meeting with the Penang Narcotic Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) at the Royal Malaysia Police Headquarters in George Town.

This initiative underscores a shared commitment to addressing the ongoing challenges of drug abuse in the state.

The session held on 19 May 2025 focused on enhancing collaboration in both research and community outreach.

It was attended by senior representatives from both organisations, including the Director and Deputy Director of NCID, along with several high-ranking police officers.

During the meeting, CDR experts presented insights into the national drug abuse landscape, with particular emphasis on the evolving discourse surrounding kratom science.

Key discussion points included the integration of CDR’s scientific expertise into NCID’s training modules and the joint development of community-based anti-drug campaigns.

NCID also expressed interest in engaging CDR for expert consultations on complex drug-related cases that require academic insight.

“This collaboration reflects our commitment to harnessing academic knowledge for real-world challenges. We believe CDR’s scientific expertise will be instrumental in shaping more effective drug prevention strategies,” stated an NCID representative.

The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to pursue deeper collaboration through structured activities and sustained engagement.

This partnership supports Malaysia’s alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on good health and well-being, and SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Text and Photos: Centre for Drug Research, USM/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe