Drug abusers must be handled with care

Drug abuse is widespread among students, and schools have become a popular trading place for drugs. Students are a major target of traffickers as they are easily "challenged" to try new things. A number of student scouts interviewed by The Jakarta Post asserted that drug addicts must be handled with care by their family and friends.

Noval Andrean, 16, a first year student at state high school SMU 112 in Daan Mogot, West Jakarta.

Many friends of mine take drugs. I haven't abandoned them. Instead, I often try to approach them in a bid to help them stop the habit.

Family and close friends play the most important role in helping addicts resist their craving for drugs. The lack of understanding of addicts' problems often contributes to the worsening of their condition.

In addition, the addicts themselves have to boost their self- confidence to quit the habit, because any treatment in a rehabilitation center does not necessarily guarantee them from relapse. Besides, not all people can afford costly rehabilitation treatment.

In a group discussion on drug abuse among students last week, we came to the conclusion that the distribution of drugs among students could be curbed by halting the demand. If there was no market for drugs, there would be no demand for it. It relies upon the students' solidarity to combat drug trafficking in schools.

Sukma Adiputra, 16, is a Jakarta-born scout who resides in Tangerang. He studies at state high school SMU 112 in West Jakarta.

In my opinion, developing hobbies and interests is the only way to prevent young people from consuming drugs.

Most rehabilitation centers for drug abusers only reduce the levels of addiction, but don't manage to get patients to kick the habit. Some friends of mine have even become more addicted to drugs after receiving treatment.

I have even seen a police officer take drugs.

Any eradication of drug abuse encounters difficulties in its implementation by law enforcers, if like the police, they are involved in drug dealing.

Encep Ade, 16, is a high school student at Islamic high school MAN 1 in Grogol, West Jakarta, and resides in Kapuk Muara, North Jakarta.

I have a brother-in-law who is also an ex-drug addict. He managed to stop his habit after his family sent him to an Islamic boarding school for religious treatment.

Rehabilitation centers and religious ones like Islamic boarding schools (which offer treatment for drug addicts) are still important to cure them. Many young people use drugs as they like to be copycats. Without strong self-confidence and strong faith they will continue to become easy prey to drug dealers.

In my opinion, drug addicts must be sent immediately to those religious centers before their addiction affects their peers.