3.9% of students use drugs: Survey

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: A survey conducted by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the University of Indonesia (UI) has found that 3.9 percent of students across the country used drugs.

The survey covered a random sample of 13,710 students across 30 provincial capitals; of these, 535 had used drugs.

Central Kalimantan Narcotics Agency head Nahson Taway said on Saturday that drug sales and distribution had reached junior and senior high school students.

"No single district in Indonesia is free from drugs. Therefore, regional governments must take an active part in fighting drug abuse," he said.

Government data shows that between 1997 and 2003, an estimated 800 drug users were from 6 to 12 years of age, and 7,000 were between the ages of 13 and 15.

Between 1999 and 2003, 64 percent of survey participants were between 15 and 29 years old, while 34 percent were over 30. -- Antara