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.