1Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Norshahira Osman: Email: norshahira_osman@yahoo.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-1617-1125
Lukman Zawawi Mohamad: Email: lukmanzm1@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-0814-969X
Hayuni Mazlan: Email: hayuniyunie95@gmail.com; ORCID: 0009-0008-9487-8426
*Corresponding Author: Norshahira Osman, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. Email: norshahira_osman@yahoo.com
Received: 19th Oct, 2025; Revised: 15th Dec, 2025; Accepted: 16th Jan, 2026; Available Online: 15th Feb, 2026
Suicide remains a major public health concern among drug addicts, who are exposed to elevated risk due to the interaction of psychosocial vulnerabilities and psychopathological distress. Early identification of suicide risk is therefore essential for effective prevention and intervention; however, validated assessment instruments specifically designed for this population remain limited, particularly within the Malaysian context. This study aimed to develop and validate Drug Addict Suicide Risk Assessment (DASRA), a psychometric instrument designed to assess psychosocial and psychopathological components of suicide risk among drug addicts in Malaysia. A quantitative survey-based design was employed, involving 322 drug addicts recruited from rehabilitation centres and community-based programmes along the East Coast of Malaysia. The final instrument comprised 40 items rated on a four-point Likert scale. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha, while construct validity was assessed through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation. The findings demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.91. EFA supported a four-factor structure encompassing drug dependence, emotional disorders, depression, and anxiety, which collectively explained 64.41% of the total variance. All items exhibited strong factor loadings exceeding 0.50, indicating satisfactory construct validity. Significant correlations among the four sub-components further supported the internal consistency and coherence of the instrument. Overall, DASRA is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing suicide risk among drug addicts. Its multidimensional structure enables comprehensive evaluation of psychosocial and psychopathological risk factors, supporting early detection, targeted intervention, and evidence-based suicide prevention strategies within clinical and rehabilitation settings.
Keywords: suicide risk, drug addicts, psychosocial disorders, psychopathological disorders, instrument development
How to cite this article: Osman N, Mohamad LZ, Mazlan H.., Development and Validation of the Drug Addict Suicide Risk Assessment (DASRA) in Malaysia....Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026; 16(2): 251-263; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.2.28
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None