International Overdose Awareness Day 2021: Decriminalising Personal Drug Use

Yesterday (31st Aug) was International Overdose Awareness Day, which is said to be the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, to remember without stigma those who have died from overdose, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. In conjunction with that, we take a look at the role that decriminalisation of drugs for personal use could play in reducing overdose or perhaps even putting an end to it, and whether there is sufficient support for such a move to happen in Malaysia. We are joined by Samantha Chong, a human rights lawyer & drug policy reform advocate, and Palani Narayanan, Senior Advisor on Drug Use and Harm Reduction at the Global Fund.

Image credit: Shutterstock