KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — Researchers under a RM5 million Education Ministry grant have found that Zam Zam water, sourced from the Well of Zamzam located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and black seed oil are better cures for opiate addiction than methadone.

Berita Harian reported that Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) deputy vice chancellor (research and development) Prof Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman said the research was part of the university’s initiative to develop a comprehensive treatment for opiate addiction.

“Our early studies revealed that respondents are showing positive improvements after being given air zam zam and habbatus sauda in our effort to lower the dosage of methadone to overcome their opiate addiction.

“Our research used the natural ingredients to lower the dosage of methadone among addicts because methadone can be harmful if taken in excess,” he said, as quoted by the Malay language daily.

He said this method is more “Islamic” and comprehensive, as it includes religious and counselling sessions with the addicts.

The professor added that the research was also participated by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Universiti Malaya (UM), and the Marang Prison, involving three disciplines; medicine, Islamic studies and social science over a period of five years.

“Most of of the respondents are able to overcome their addiction after taking this treatment and we plan to widen this method to include more opiate addicts,” he said.

This new “discovery” was made by a group of researchers under the Education Ministry Malaysia NIC Research grant scheme as well as UMT and UM, led by UniSZA.

The state government, the Prisons Department and the National Anti Drugs Angency also participated in this research on 250 opiate addicts in the Marang Prison.