Drugs problem extremely alarming, says expert<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Drug trafficking and abuse in Jakarta are increasing at an
\nextremely alarming rate due to abundant supplies of drugs on the
\nmarket, an expert said.<\/p>\n
\"Data shows a declining trend in drug addicts asking for
\ntreatment from drug rehabilitation centers. That's extremely
\nalarming as it implies there are abundant supplies on the market
\nthat are accessible to drug addicts so that they do not suffer
\nsevere craving for drugs that forces them to seek help at
\nrehabilitation centers or hospital,\" said Dadang Hawari Idries, a
\nprofessor of psychiatry of the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Hospital for drug addicts reported declining trends in
\ndrug addicts being treated by the hospital from 1999 to 2001, or
\nfrom 9,714 patients to 4,108 patients.<\/p>\n
Based on that data, Dadang asserted, the number of drug
\nabusers in Jakarta could stand at 10 times the reported cases.<\/p>\n
In its year-end report, the police revealed that the number of
\ndrug cases had jumped significantly, up 44 percent to 2,642 cases
\nin 2002 from 1,831 cases in 2001.<\/p>\n
\"You can imagine that if every drug addict consumes one gram
\nof heroin priced at Rp 100,000 (US$11) per day. What a massive
\namount of money was taken from the economy,\" Dadang remarked.<\/p>\n
Dadang blamed the abundant supplies of drugs on the market and
\nthe corrupt law enforcers.<\/p>\n
\"It is a public secret that law enforcers, including police
\nand judges, are not serious in quashing drug trafficking, they
\nare even behind the drug trafficking. In some cases, we have
\nwitnesssd that they too consume drugs,\" Dadang said.<\/p>\n
Dadang was referring to the recent death of a police officer
\nfrom a drug overdose on New Year's Eve.<\/p>\n
In a related development, two other officers were dismissed
\nfor being suspected of involvement in a \"drug party\" at the
\nAthena discotheque on Jl. Kali Besar, Tambora, West Jakarta,
\nduring the New Year's Eve celebrations.<\/p>\n
\"No charges have been made against those officers so far. They
\nmust also be sent to court. Otherwise, they could roam freely to
\nprotect drug trafficking,\" said Dadang.<\/p>\n
Last year, four police were dismissed for their involvement in
\ndrug related cases, insignificant when compared to 63 other
\nofficers who were dismissed for other cases like polygamy and
\ndesertion.<\/p>\n
Dadang asserted that law enforcers must first purge themselves
\nof drugs if they are to wage war against drug trafficking.<\/p>\n
Activist Veronica Colondam of foundation Yayasan Cinta Anak
\nBangsa (YCAB) said combating drugs was everyone's business.<\/p>\n
\"The war against drug abuse must involve all parties as
\nregardless of their walk of life, no social strata of society is
\nuntouchable when it comes to drug abuse,\" Veronica said.<\/p>\n
On top of that, Veronica said, the protracted economic crisis
\nand uncertain political situation also contributed to the upsurge
\nin drug trafficking thus leading to a massive influx of drugs on
\nthe market.<\/p>\n
Affordable drugs due to the abundant supplies of drugs in the
\nmarket makes it easier for people to obtain the substances and
\nconsume them regularly.<\/p>\n
\"Drug trading is a lucrative business amid the battered
\neconomy and high level of unemployment,\" said Veronica.<\/p>\n
Massive layoffs of those working in formal sector, for
\ninstance, have resulted in huge number of unemployed people which
\nlater turn to drugs and become drug pushers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Andi
\nChaeruddin told The Post recently that police had made the war
\nagainst drug trafficking its top priority along with war on
\nterrorism and corruption.<\/p>\n
\"We will not tolerate drug abuse as it threatens the lives of
\nthe young generation,\" said Andi.<\/p>\n
Last year, the police succeeded to solving 2,571 cases
\nimplicating 2,703 suspects comprising 2,662 Indonesians and 41
\nforeigners. The police also seized 263 kilograms of marijuana,
\n143 kilograms of heroin, 55 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine
\n(shabu-shabu), 8.5 kilograms of cocaine, 4,985 ecstasy pills, and
\n5,321 other samples of other additive substances.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drugs-problem-extremely-alarming-says-expert-1447893297",
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