Treatment Barriers Associated with Amphetamine-Type Stimulant (ATS) Use in Malaysia

People who use amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) are known to face barriers in seeking treatment. We sought to identify these barriers and gender differences in barriers (if any) faced by them. A convenience sample of 386 respondents who use ATS was recruited from five formal drug rehabilitation centers for this cross-sectional study. The majority were male (83%), with 17% being female. The barriers most frequently cited by both men and women were: the perception that ATS use needed no treatment, fears of community discrimination, peer influence, and long waiting time to get into a treatment programme. One-third of the sample held that the mandated treatment programmes were ineffective, based on past experience. In terms of male-female differences, long waiting time discouraged significantly more women than men, whereas more men than women asserted that formal treatment programmes were ineffective. We also found no significant differences in barriers faced by ATS users and those using ATS with other illicit substances. Outreach initiatives to minimize the impact of treatment barriers, coupled with offering separate treatment protocols and facilities, will encourage people who use ATS to seek treatment voluntarily.