Activists and students mark world antidrug day

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya/Medan/Kendari

Activists and students across the country commemorated on Saturday the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with many voicing concern over the increasing number of drug users with HIV/AIDS.

In Jakarta, about 500 volunteers and activists handed out brochures on the dangers of drugs along the main thoroughfare Jl. Thamrin, while unfurling large banners that read: "Say No To Drugs."

They also encouraged drivers to turn on their headlights as a sign of their concern over drug abuse.

In Surabaya, dozens of students took to the streets and distributed leaflets warning the public of the hazards of drugs.

The local government in Medan commemorated the day by burning almost 1.5 tons of marijuana with a street value of Rp 1.3 billion (US$136,842).

Earlier in the day a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the beginning of construction on a new drug rehabilitation center.

In Kendari, motorcyclists and car drivers turned on their headlights to mark the day.

The day marked the beginning of a campaign aimed at making Indonesia drug-free by 2015. The campaign, which carries the theme Treatment Works, was designed by the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention.

Drug abuse has been blamed for the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that injecting drug users (IDUs) now account for about 70 percent of the 80,000 to 130,000 HIV/AIDS cases in the country.

The data also reveals that, as of the end of March 2004, the number of HIV/AIDS cases among IDUs has risen to 548 (HIV positive) and 374 (AIDS), from only 10 total cases in 1999. The highest percentage of IDUs with HIV/AIDS are in Jakarta (43 percent), with 65 percent of those cases involving IDUs between the ages of 20 and 29.

According to National AIDS Commission consultant Nafsiah Mboi, the spread of HIV/AIDS could be contained as long as the IDUs were given effective treatment.

"With a comprehensive approach of demand, supply and harm reduction programs, we can treat the IDUs and curb the number of HIV/AIDS cases," said Nafsiah.

She said the government and the police were responsible for the supply reduction program, while society was responsible for both demand reduction and harm reduction.

Supply reduction focuses on cutting the supply of drugs, demand reduction on curbing the number of drug users and harm reduction focuses on providing IDUs with methadone treatment or clean disposable needles.

"Let's punish the drug dealers, let's condemn the use of drugs, but let's support and treat the IDUs as this is the way to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading further," said Nafsiah.