Drugs readily available at schools in Jakarta

Drugs readily available at schools in Jakarta

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Illegal trade of drugs is rampant in schools throughout the
capital. Peer pressure and eagerness to try new things makes
students easy prey for drug pushers.

Data on students who take drugs is not available, but an
expert estimates that 95 percent of 750,000 drug users in Greater
Jakarta, which has a population of more than 11 million, are
students aged between 15 and 25 years old.

"Some students say that about 40 percent of their classmates
have experimented with drugs," Joyce Djaelani Gordon, a program
director of Kita Foundation Center for Addiction Treatment and
Recovery Community, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Quoting an economics theory which says supply always seeks to
offset demand, Joyce said the illegal trade of drugs remained
rampant in schools here due to the lack of concern by teachers
regarding the urgency of the problem.

"The biggest enemy in the eradication of drug abuse in schools
is mostly ignorance about the drug problems," she said, citing
the low number of students who go to their teachers for advice
about their problems.

According to Joyce, teachers may know various types of drugs
but they would find it difficult to identify the changing habits
of their students, which is one indication of drug addiction.

Many students at various schools in the capital admit that
drugs are sold at their schools, but deny that their schools
could be regarded as drug markets.

"Yes, all schools, without exception, are exposed to drugs,
but only a few friends have become addicts," said Erlangga
Kakawijaya, a student of a private high school in Senen, Central
Jakarta.

Erlangga said that around 5 percent of his classmates used
drugs.

Dolores, a student at a state high school in Manggarai, South
Jakarta, said classmates had offered her drugs.

"Some friends of mine offered me drugs, but I refused as I'm
afraid of becoming addicted," she said.

Drug use in schools is becoming prevalent as drugs can easily
be obtained and are, sometimes, affordable. Many students also
serve as "runners", who help mediate between drug dealers and
students. Most of the runners eventually become addicts as they
often take the drugs left unsold.

Meanwhile, Noerdin, assistant principal of SMU 24 high school
in Palmerah, Central Jakarta, played down the severity of the
problem.

"The last case of drug abuse here occurred two years ago when
we expelled a student who had drugs in his schoolbag," he said.

He said drug abuse was rare at schools where teachers tightly
monitored their students.

"During recess, teachers here always patrol the grounds to
check likely places, like the school canteen and restrooms, where
students might take drugs," he said.

Noerdin contended that daily patrols prevented students from
smoking cigarettes or consuming drugs as they would feel insecure
with teachers nearby.

Random bag checks are also done by teachers in an attempt to
stop drug use on school grounds, Noerdin added.

But Noerdin revealed that many small kiosks near the school
had become centers for drug transactions, and the school had no
authority over them.