Eradicating "Dodol" to Prevent Brawls and Mugging
Bekasi Regency (ANTARA) - “Dodol” is a well-known slang term for tramadol, a strong opioid painkiller listed under Schedule G that acts on the central nervous system to relieve moderate to severe pain. Its use requires a doctor’s prescription due to the risk of addiction.
As it falls under controlled medicines and is classified as a narcotic in Indonesia, the use of this drug must be based on a doctor’s prescription to prevent dependency risks and misuse.
In Bekasi Regency, the misuse of this controlled medicine is always linked to police discoveries in cases of theft and teenage brawls. Consumption of tramadol by young people often triggers such criminal acts, albeit through various modi operandi.
The issue at hand is the story of the misuse of Schedule G controlled medicines among teenagers in the jurisdiction of Bekasi Regency and why they can easily obtain the substance illegally.
According to local activists in the Anti-Illicit Drugs Forum (Fortal), the circulation of these controlled medicines has become a complex and deeply rooted problem. The trade in this drug has even been ongoing for nearly three decades.
Investigations reveal several hotspots that have long served as centres for tramadol distribution in Bekasi Regency. At these locations, the buying and selling of the drug has been rampant since 1996, becoming a primary source of livelihood for some residents.
Its notoriety is such that many people, even from outside Bekasi Regency, come to purchase tramadol at these spots. Only the firmness and bravery of law enforcement officials can eradicate the trade in controlled medicines. This requires consistency to save the younger generation.
The negative impacts over decades from this illegal activity have also drawn attention from a Bekasi Regency representative who is now a member of the DPR’s Commission III, Obon Tabroni.
According to him, the misuse of this drug has caused severe consequences for teenagers. Not only in psychological aspects, but it has also led to an increase in crime rates in the area known as Southeast Asia’s largest industrial centre.
He assesses that the trigger for this problem is the ease with which teenagers gain direct access to sellers and suppliers at relatively cheap prices. Modus operandi such as opening mobile phone kiosks, cosmetic shops, and even sticker sales have become common knowledge for tramadol transactions.
“So, the shops selling these drugs are actually very widespread and have many buyers. Besides the cheap prices, obtaining them is easy, without a doctor’s prescription. It’s no wonder that acts of violent theft, mugging, and teenage brawls are rampant now, even children in their teens killing each other. I think that’s one of the triggers,” said Obon Tabroni.
Both Fortal activists and the Indonesian House of Representatives member agree that the misuse of controlled medicines must be firmly addressed immediately, right from the root. They place great hope in the Metro Bekasi Police Resort authorities, who are deemed capable of eradicating producers, suppliers, and distributors.
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