Spatial analysis of drug abuse hotspots in Malaysia: A case study of the Northeast District of Penang

Drug abuses are virtually universal and in Malaysia some locations of drug abuse are more pronounced than others. This study sought to identify high-risk areas or hot-spot of drug abuse among youth in the Northeast district of Penang utilizing the drug abuse data for a period of two consecutive years of 2013 and 2014. The objective is to identify and define high-risk areas or hot-spots of drug abuse in the study area. Results showed that cases of drug abuse increased from the previous year s total of 715 cases. The highest increase recorded between the two years was Jalan Patani police station while the one registering the lowest was the Kampung Baru police station. There was a decrease in the number of hot-spot areas from 7 in 2013 to 3 in 2014 for Jelutong, Jalan Patani, Kampung Baru, Lebuh Pantai, Lebuh Pantai and Kampung Baru. Cases of drug abuse were predominant in the densely populated city area in 2013 that involved Kampung Baru and Lebuh Pantai police station.