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.