Health ministry to study Ecstasy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As the media hype on the danger of the rave-
\nscene stimulant Ecstasy increases, the government announces it
\nwill examine whether the synthetic drug should be classified
\nunder narcotics or dangerous drugs.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Sujudi yesterday told a hearing with the
\nHouse Commission VIII, which oversees health, that at the moment
\nEcstasy is not listed at the ministry as a dangerous drug.<\/p>\n
"We don't even know which laboratory produces it," he
\nadmitted.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Singgih said recently said that Indonesia's
\n19-year-old anti-narcotics law needs to be amended to enable law
\nenforcers to prosecute people they suspect of trafficking or
\nusing Ecstasy.<\/p>\n
The fact that the chemical substances in Ecstasy do not appear
\nin the existing legislation as narcotic elements has often been
\nblamed for widespread abuse of it and the inability of law
\nenforcers to curb its spread through legal measures.<\/p>\n
The lack of legislation on the drug has forced police to
\nrelease a number of suspected consumers and traffickers of the
\ndrug. Police, however, can arrest suspects on charges of
\nendangering society and creating social unrest.<\/p>\n
Luhut Pangaribuan of Jakarta's Legal Aid Foundation said
\nrecently that the Minister of Health must soon determine whether
\nEcstasy is to be listed as a narcotic or as a dangerous drug.<\/p>\n
Luhut suggested to put Ecstasy on the narcotics list if police
\nregard it as dangerous. This way, they would have a strong legal
\nbasis for arresting Ecstasy consumers and traffickers, seize the
\ndrug and bringing suspects to court, he said.<\/p>\n
Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is popular among young Indonesian
\nadults and teenagers attending "raves" -- huge, extended dance
\nparties.<\/p>\n
Experts said Ecstasy is a mixture of an amphetamine derivative
\nand caffeine, the hallucinogen LSD and other substances not
\nclearly identified.<\/p>\n
The drug is used for the clinical treatment of hyperactive
\nchildren and the symptoms of narcolepsy. It is also used as a
\nshort-term appetite suppressant in dieting.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, U.S. researchers found new evidence that
\nconsumption of the drug could cause permanent brain damage
\nleading to mood disturbances. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/health-ministry-to-study-ecstasy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}