Drug rehab center turns away addicts

BOGOR (JP): The management of Cilendek Psychiatric Health Institution in Bogor has decided to temporary stop accepting inpatients who are drug addicts due to a lack of available space and paramedics.

The hospital has been serving as a drug rehabilitation center in cooperation with the Permata Hati Kita Foundation since August.

"We only have room for 40 drug addicts, while many parents from Jakarta have been putting their kids under our supervision," Amir Husein Anwar, the hospital director, said.

Among the 40 patients are high school and university students from Jakarta. Most were taken to the hospital to be treated for dependency upon shabu-shabu (crystal metamphetamine).

Amir said it was likely the demand for treatment would sharply increase as data shows that at least one million of Jakarta's 10 million population consume drugs.

"We need at least three months to cure a patient," Amir said.

The hospital only provides the space, he said, "While the Permata Hati Kita Foundation covers the expense for medicine and paramedics."

It is not clear when the hospital will start receiving addicts again. Treatment costs about Rp 100,000 per day per person.

Three percent of youths in Bogor also reportedly use drugs. (21/edt)