Drugs problem extremely alarming, says expert
Drugs problem extremely alarming, says expert
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Drug trafficking and abuse in Jakarta are increasing at an
extremely alarming rate due to abundant supplies of drugs on the
market, an expert said.
"Data shows a declining trend in drug addicts asking for
treatment from drug rehabilitation centers. That's extremely
alarming as it implies there are abundant supplies on the market
that are accessible to drug addicts so that they do not suffer
severe craving for drugs that forces them to seek help at
rehabilitation centers or hospital," said Dadang Hawari Idries, a
professor of psychiatry of the University of Indonesia.
Jakarta Hospital for drug addicts reported declining trends in
drug addicts being treated by the hospital from 1999 to 2001, or
from 9,714 patients to 4,108 patients.
Based on that data, Dadang asserted, the number of drug
abusers in Jakarta could stand at 10 times the reported cases.
In its year-end report, the police revealed that the number of
drug cases had jumped significantly, up 44 percent to 2,642 cases
in 2002 from 1,831 cases in 2001.
"You can imagine that if every drug addict consumes one gram
of heroin priced at Rp 100,000 (US$11) per day. What a massive
amount of money was taken from the economy," Dadang remarked.
Dadang blamed the abundant supplies of drugs on the market and
the corrupt law enforcers.
"It is a public secret that law enforcers, including police
and judges, are not serious in quashing drug trafficking, they
are even behind the drug trafficking. In some cases, we have
witnesssd that they too consume drugs," Dadang said.
Dadang was referring to the recent death of a police officer
from a drug overdose on New Year's Eve.
In a related development, two other officers were dismissed
for being suspected of involvement in a "drug party" at the
Athena discotheque on Jl. Kali Besar, Tambora, West Jakarta,
during the New Year's Eve celebrations.
"No charges have been made against those officers so far. They
must also be sent to court. Otherwise, they could roam freely to
protect drug trafficking," said Dadang.
Last year, four police were dismissed for their involvement in
drug related cases, insignificant when compared to 63 other
officers who were dismissed for other cases like polygamy and
desertion.
Dadang asserted that law enforcers must first purge themselves
of drugs if they are to wage war against drug trafficking.
Activist Veronica Colondam of foundation Yayasan Cinta Anak
Bangsa (YCAB) said combating drugs was everyone's business.
"The war against drug abuse must involve all parties as
regardless of their walk of life, no social strata of society is
untouchable when it comes to drug abuse," Veronica said.
On top of that, Veronica said, the protracted economic crisis
and uncertain political situation also contributed to the upsurge
in drug trafficking thus leading to a massive influx of drugs on
the market.
Affordable drugs due to the abundant supplies of drugs in the
market makes it easier for people to obtain the substances and
consume them regularly.
"Drug trading is a lucrative business amid the battered
economy and high level of unemployment," said Veronica.
Massive layoffs of those working in formal sector, for
instance, have resulted in huge number of unemployed people which
later turn to drugs and become drug pushers.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Andi
Chaeruddin told The Post recently that police had made the war
against drug trafficking its top priority along with war on
terrorism and corruption.
"We will not tolerate drug abuse as it threatens the lives of
the young generation," said Andi.
Last year, the police succeeded to solving 2,571 cases
implicating 2,703 suspects comprising 2,662 Indonesians and 41
foreigners. The police also seized 263 kilograms of marijuana,
143 kilograms of heroin, 55 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine
(shabu-shabu), 8.5 kilograms of cocaine, 4,985 ecstasy pills, and
5,321 other samples of other additive substances.