Activists and students mark world antidrug day<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Surabaya\/Medan\/Kendari<\/p>\n
Activists and students across the country commemorated on
\nSaturday the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit
\nTrafficking, with many voicing concern over the increasing number
\nof drug users with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, about 500 volunteers and activists handed out
\nbrochures on the dangers of drugs along the main thoroughfare Jl.
\nThamrin, while unfurling large banners that read: \"Say No To
\nDrugs.\"<\/p>\n
They also encouraged drivers to turn on their headlights as a
\nsign of their concern over drug abuse.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, dozens of students took to the streets and
\ndistributed leaflets warning the public of the hazards of drugs.<\/p>\n
The local government in Medan commemorated the day by burning
\nalmost 1.5 tons of marijuana with a street value of Rp 1.3
\nbillion (US$136,842).<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark
\nthe beginning of construction on a new drug rehabilitation
\ncenter.<\/p>\n
In Kendari, motorcyclists and car drivers turned on their
\nheadlights to mark the day.<\/p>\n
The day marked the beginning of a campaign aimed at making
\nIndonesia drug-free by 2015. The campaign, which carries the
\ntheme Treatment Works, was designed by the United Nations Office
\nfor Drug Control and Crime Prevention.<\/p>\n
Drug abuse has been blamed for the spread of HIV\/AIDS in the
\ncountry. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that injecting
\ndrug users (IDUs) now account for about 70 percent of the 80,000
\nto 130,000 HIV\/AIDS cases in the country.<\/p>\n
The data also reveals that, as of the end of March 2004, the
\nnumber of HIV\/AIDS cases among IDUs has risen to 548 (HIV
\npositive) and 374 (AIDS), from only 10 total cases in 1999. The
\nhighest percentage of IDUs with HIV\/AIDS are in Jakarta (43
\npercent), with 65 percent of those cases involving IDUs between
\nthe ages of 20 and 29.<\/p>\n
According to National AIDS Commission consultant Nafsiah Mboi,
\nthe spread of HIV\/AIDS could be contained as long as the IDUs
\nwere given effective treatment.<\/p>\n
\"With a comprehensive approach of demand, supply and harm
\nreduction programs, we can treat the IDUs and curb the number of
\nHIV\/AIDS cases,\" said Nafsiah.<\/p>\n
She said the government and the police were responsible for
\nthe supply reduction program, while society was responsible for
\nboth demand reduction and harm reduction.<\/p>\n
Supply reduction focuses on cutting the supply of drugs,
\ndemand reduction on curbing the number of drug users and harm
\nreduction focuses on providing IDUs with methadone treatment or
\nclean disposable needles.<\/p>\n
\"Let's punish the drug dealers, let's condemn the use of
\ndrugs, but let's support and treat the IDUs as this is the way to
\nprevent HIV\/AIDS from spreading further,\" said Nafsiah.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activists-and-students-mark-world-antidrug-day-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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