Reporters get course on drugs

JAKARTA (JP): A course on illegal drugs for journalists from ASEAN countries will start today.

The week-long course, which runs until Nov. 30, focuses on the media's role in preventing and combating drug abuse.

Director General for Press and Graphics Subrata will open the course.

The course is called "ASEAN Journalists/Media Personnel Encounter on Preventive Drug Information," and will be held at the Kartika Chandra Hotel in South Jakarta.

Committee member A. Saefudin said yesterday officers from related bodies in Southeast Asia had been invited to participate.

Representatives from each ASEAN country will present papers on their respective country's experiences, Saefudin said.

Indonesian speakers include psychologist Dadang Hawari from the University of Indonesia.

Participants will visit the famous Pondok Pesantren Suryalaya treatment and rehabilitation center for drug addicts in West Java. (bsr)