RI needs clearer vision on drugs<\/p>\n
Gwynne Dyer's article It's high time for the U.S. to stop war
\nagainst drugs in The Jakarta Post of April 5 criticizes drug
\nprohibitionism.<\/p>\n
He contends that the U.S. is coercing developing countries
\ninto joining a \"futile and destructive crusade\" against drugs
\nwhich are culturally unacceptable to American voters. He also
\nsays that criminalizing drugs creates a lucrative, violent,
\nillegal drug trade and fills prisons unnecessarily.<\/p>\n
However, it does not follow that legalizing more drugs is a
\ngood idea. All drugs can disturb the health and behavior of
\nusers. This includes legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco, drugs
\nabused by athletes and some drugs prescribed as pacifiers or that
\nare money-spinners for doctors. Also, drugs can afflict families
\nbehaviorally and financially. With such a large and complex
\nproblem, one cannot expect any strategy to simultaneously give
\nthe ideal outcome for the individual, the family and the local
\nand international community.<\/p>\n
In any case, in Indonesia, urbanization, unemployment and the
\nlegacy of recent riots ensure that the rise in violent crime will
\ncontinue with or without drugs. Unlike America, Indonesia has no
\nmoney to build and maintain extra prisons so existing prisons
\nwill become overcrowded and breed further violence and crime.
\nMeanwhile sensational crime reporting heightens the public's
\nanxiety.<\/p>\n
Eventually, people will adjust by building more secure homes,
\nnot carrying around bags full of cash, restricting their
\nmovements at night and so on. In the meantime, many people are
\nacquiring firearms. The authorities make little effort to stop
\nthe gun trade since the police and military naturally believe in
\nsecurity through force. Ultimately, however, the proliferation of
\nguns harms the quality of life, especially for the poor, more
\nthan drugs, poor sanitation, cramped houses or anything else.<\/p>\n
The loudest political response to the crime surge up to now
\nhas been a call for greater use of the death penalty. Executing
\nheroin traffickers alleviates society's sense of helplessness and
\nprovides judges with potential extra income but institutionalizes
\nkilling.<\/p>\n
Indonesia needs clearer vision, direction and priorities in
\nfacing the inescapable problems of drugs, crime and punishment.<\/p>\n
JOHN HARGREAVES<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-needs-clearer-vision-on-drugs-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }