Bali to get pilot drug prevention program<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Bali has been chosen as the province for a pilot
\ndrug addiction prevention project in Indonesia, a medical expert
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
Tony Setiabudhi, a lecturer from Trisakti university and
\ninvolved in the project, said at a workshop that because Bali was
\na transit area and market base for international illegal drug
\ntrafficking it was considered the appropriate place for the
\nproject.<\/p>\n
The workshop, held by Bersama Foundation, discussed the
\nmethods and objectives of primary prevention for the country's
\ndrug abusers, the problem is to be addressed at a household
\nlevel.<\/p>\n
Tony, a psychiatrist, said the project which begins next year
\nis a model that could be applied in other parts of Indonesia,
\nwith any necessary modifications needed to ensure its success to
\nbeing made by the government.<\/p>\n
He said the project's objectives include local support for
\ntreatment services, after-care and social reintegration after
\ntreatment and rehabilitation, education on drug abuse for local
\ncommunities and promoting effective, low-cost strategies on
\npreventive and treatment services.<\/p>\n
The project aims to empower the victims through community
\nsupport rather than stigmatizing them as the perpetrators of drug
\nabuse, he said.<\/p>\n
Tony said the project has prepared special research workers
\nfrom the Denpasar-based Udayana University to train teachers in
\npreventing drug abuse among the students.<\/p>\n
He said the researchers would use scientific measures to
\naccount for the results.<\/p>\n
The project will be implemented in cooperation with Bakolak, a
\ngovernment body in charge of handling drug abuse and juvenile
\ndelinquency.<\/p>\n
There is no regular statistical data available on drug abuse
\nin Indonesia but the Drug Dependence Hospital in Jakarta recently
\nreleased a report on the conditions of its 72 patients.<\/p>\n
The report said that 94 percent smoked tobacco, 82 percent
\ndrank alcohol, 82 percent took stimulants and 78 percent used
\nmarijuana. Their addictions stemmed from stress.<\/p>\n
It said the patients reported they felt relaxed. Of the 72
\npatients, 51 percent said they obtained the feeling from tobacco
\nsmoking, 56 percent from drinking alcohol, 62 percent from
\nsmoking marijuana and 52 percent from taking stimulants.<\/p>\n
The total number of drug abuse victims in Indonesia was not
\nstated in the report. Tony said the relapse rate for Indonesia's
\ndrug abusers was 60 percent.<\/p>\n
Tony said that in addition to this project, psychiatric wards
\nof hospitals are required to provide drug rehabilitation and
\ntreatment services.<\/p>\n
Throughout the conference, participants stressed the need for
\ntailor-made programs instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to
\npreventing drug abuse in their countries, especially programs
\nwith active local community involvement. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-to-get-pilot-drug-prevention-program-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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