Um. I know a few university lecturers well. Their secret consensus is that research is a load of bullshit, especially in social sciences, and especially in Malaysia. In fact it would be far more beneficial to society and the country if education was prioritised, especially in technical fields. Some of the worst educators in the business are, surprise surprise (not really), the best publishers of research.
However the academic system is designed to favour "research", mainly so profs who have never actually worked in the commercial side of their "expert" fields before can pat themselves and each other on the back and say they are contributing to humanity. Yeah, they do produce lots of useful research. But they produce even more bullshit. And unfortunately in countries like ours where prestige is prioritised over performance, even our top universities are hiring people to publish papers rather than educate. Cause it looks good.
Face it, unless you're in MIT or Harvard or whatever, the tonnes and tonnes of "research" you produce is unlikely to be of much practical application.
Anyway I don't see why some people here are pointing at the guy's Phd as a trigger for his drug problem

how many profs have to resort to drugs to do their research

conversely, how many druggies did it so they can study harder

wish I can use that excuse too: "oh yeah I cheong because I'm relieving stress from my work"

but i dont think he do drug because of stress or to study. i think he did it because he did it...due to friend's influence