Drug abuse worrying

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Cases of drug abuse in East Kalimantan has risen by 560 percent over the past year from five cases to 28, a local official said yesterday.

Deputy Governor Suwarna said that not only has the number of addiction cases drastically risen but more people in smaller towns and villages have been affected.

The most popular drug is Nipam, which originates from India. According to Suwarna, police seized 18 Nipam capsules in 1993 and another 4,800 capsules in 1994.

Drug abuse has spread from the main cities of Balikpapan and Samarinda to subdistrict towns in Tarakan and Bontang.

"The addicts include junior high school students, and some elementary school children have also become addicted," he told Antara. (pan)