Drugs widely used by students

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Hamdani Harahap, chairman of the North Sumatra chapter of the Anti-Narcotics National Movement (Granat), expressed concern on Thursday that drugs were being widely used by students in the province.

Citing police data, he said the drug use had been detected in 800 elementary school students, 7,500 junior high school students and 10,000 high school students between 1997 and 2002.

"This is far too much, and cannot be tolerated," he said.

Hamdani said the government, which was vested with the power to enforce the law, was responsible for preventing students from becoming victim to drugs.

He demanded that the government immediately step up efforts to crush drug traffickers and their syndicates operating in schools, and stop the distribution of drugs among students.

He also called for parents and teachers to help in eradicating drug trafficking in the province.

"It is not only the responsibility of the government, but also the parents, to save the students," he said. -- Antara