NGO launches antidrug campaign

JAKARTA: As drug abuse has reached an alarming level here, a non-governmental organization launched an anti-drug campaign on Monday targeting common people in Utan Kayu subdistrict in East Jakarta.

"The campaign is necessary to increase people's awareness on the serious threat of the drugs," said Ferry Susanto, head of PATRA Foundation, a non-governmental organization, which organized the campaign.

Ferry said family played the most important role in preventing the drug abuse in society. "That's why we start the campaign from their homes," he said.

Citing a recent report, Ferry said there were 3.4 million drug addicts in the capital of which the majority were teenagers and youth.

Present at the campaign were City Police Chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara, comedian Deddy "Miing" Gumelar from Bagito Group, and BIP band, a group which is popular among teenagers as they promote an anti-drug song Aku Jadi Gemuk Lagi (I regain my weight). --JP