'Shabu-shabu': Indonesia's new drug craze

'Shabu-shabu': Indonesia's new drug craze

By David Gordon

JAKARTA (JP): When Doyok, the comedian, was caught for the
possession of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), many
Indonesians gasped with surprise! This was then shortly followed
by the arrest of Maya Ari Sigit, also in relation to shabu-shabu.

Many asked, "Why do people use shabu-shabu? Is that not
insane?" Yes, it is insane.

And that is the nature of drug use, abuse and addiction.

If you look closely at recent "reported events" surrounding
shabu-shabu, you will begin to gain a truer understanding of just
how insidious this drug is and has become. Look at the names of
the people who have been arrested for possession of shabu-shabu.
Look at the "families" some of these individuals come from. Look
at their positions, status and notoriety in our society.

Ex-presidents' granddaughters and nephews, generals' and high-
ranking military officers' children, famous television
celebrities, rock and roll entertainers and stars, even children
from Indonesia's most prestigious and prominent business
families.

While putauw (heroin) still remains the leading "drug of
choice" with drug abusers in Indonesia, shabu-shabu has become
Indonesia's second most popular "drug of choice" with drug
abusers and drug addicts.

What is shabu-shabu?

Amphetamines were discovered in the late 1800's, yet did not
become "marketable" until the 1930's, when Benzedrine (bennies)
was introduced by the pharmaceutical industry to "counter low
blood pressure". Dexedrine was then introduced in the 1950's for
hunger-suppression and mood elevating.

Other brands of amphetamines then flooded the market, such as
Methedrine and Dexamyl.

By the late 1960's everyone who was anyone, was "eating whites
/ bennies and doing speed". The "speed rage" was "in". Cocaine
was "in", speed in all its forms was "in", being "up" was "in"!

Mostly people fell into two categories, either they liked
"uppers" or they liked "downers" (the trippers, meanwhile, mostly
did psychedelics).

Methamphetamine and cocaine were considered very "in" from the
late 1960's to the late 1980's. And, there were multiple forms of
methamphetamine and cocaine (some of the names used were crank,
speed, bennies, rock, crystal, crack, meth, and others).

Right around 1990, shabu-shabu / ice (methamphetamine) hit the
streets worldwide. Shabu-shabu is two to three times more potent
than most other amphetamines. This drug delivered, and generated
a superb resurgence into the "speed market."

Shabu-shabu lasted longer and produced a far better high than
most other forms of speed. It took over as the "drug of
preference" for those who liked the "speed scene". The use, and
misuse, of shabu-shabu has been climbing steadily for a full
decade now notwithstanding that it has always been considered a
very dangerous and damaging illicit drug.

But, if you want to have more energy and power, use shabu-
shabu. If you want to stay up for 24 to 48 to 72 hours, use
shabu-shabu. If you want to have a (much) longer and better
sexual experience, use shabu-shabu. If you want to think clearer
and feel smarter, use shabu-shabu. If you want to get off
heroin, use shabu-shabu The "gay scene" loves shabu-shabu. The
junior executives and the executive scene love shabu-shabu. If
you want to take weight off, use shabu-shabu.

Females (and males) who want to keep their figures slim and
trim love shabu-shabu. These are some of the most common reasons
given by people who are know to "frequent the use and misuse of
shabu-shabu."

Yet, not many people understand the downside of this drug. If
you love being paranoid for no reason, use shabu-shabu. If you
want to lose your short-term learning abilities and
concentration, use shabu-shabu. If you want to burn your brain
cells so that you become psychotic, use shabu-shabu.

Yes, if you want to end up in a mental hospital for the rest
of your life, use shabu-shabu.

Often people use combinations of uppers and downers, to
achieve a better high. Yet, in Indonesia "speedballing" has not
become a "rage" as of yet.

Speedballing is using a combination of methamphetamine and
heroin. This is a very dangerous high, and will shortly catch on
in Indonesia!

Methamphetamine hit the streets of Indonesia full blast in
1996, and has been growing in popularity with the "drug culture"
since. Generally shabu-shabu is smoked. But more and more people
are tending to "shoot" (inject) shabu-shabu these days.

Shabu-shabu can be smoked, snorted or injected -- the same is
true with Heroin. Injectable liquid shabu-shabu is still limited
in Indonesia, although liquid amphetamines may be found if one
has connections and money.

However, soon injectable liquid shabu-shabu will be plentiful,
which will greatly increase the risk, and spread, of HIV/AIDS and
Hepatitis C throughout our country. Currently in the Greater
Jakarta (Jabotabek) area, individuals who are using needles are
now testing in excess of 80 percent positive for Hepatitis C, and
in excess of 15 percent positive for HIV/AIDS. This "nightmare"
of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis is without doubt the greatest threat to
our younger generation today!

Please remember, the world today co-exists along with, and
within, a "drug culture". Millions upon millions of people, young
/ adults / middle aged / and older, use drugs, abuse drugs, and
are addicted to drugs. And, there is hardly what anyone would
call "gender discrimination" within the world of drugs today.

Shabu-shabu is far more dangerous than heroin in many ways.
Long term use and abuse of shabu-shabu adversely affects the
central nervous system, causes depression and lethargy, heart and
blood vessel toxicity, and very often causes extreme and severe
paranoia. Suicidal depressive tendencies are very common with
someone using shabu-shabu. Overdoses do occur, and people do die
from shabu-shabu although heroin is still the leader in the "drug
overdose stakes".

Violence and brutality is far more common with shabu-shabu,
than putauw. We are observing a rapid increase in shabu-shabu
related incidents of violence in Indonesia currently. This will
significantly increase over the coming years.

Detoxification from shabu-shabu takes a few days longer than
putauw. Still, detoxification is hardly as "difficult" as most
people think, or believe. It just takes a few days longer for
first stage detoxification. With a decent set and setting, and
individuals who understand the detoxification process, first
stage detoxification from shabu-shabu takes approximately between
five and eight days. WARNING: Do not use Rapid Detoxification
(Naltrexone) with shabu-shabu abusers / addicts. This method of
detoxification does absolutely nothing for anyone detoxing from
"speed". And Naltrexone is also hepatotoxic (poisonous) for
anyone with any form of active Hepatitis!

Large quantities of shabu-shabu are now being manufactured in
Indonesia! The ingredients to manufacture shabu-shabu are easily
found anywhere in the country. And shabu-shabu is easy to
produce. You can manufacture it in something as small as a
briefcase! The cost of a gram of the drug ranges from Rp 300,000
to 750,000, depending on quality!

Also, shabu-shabu may be easily be found throughout our
Indonesian school system -- beginning from the junior high school
level upwards on the island of Java presently. Shabu-shabu can
now easily be found in quantity throughout most of the country
and follows the same trafficking routes as putauw.

Shabu-shabu is here to stay -- little can be done to change
this fact. Drugs are now, unfortunately, part of our Indonesian
culture. Education will henceforth become the greatest weapon in
our armory in the "battle against drugs". Learn as much as you
can as quickly as you can, and share this information as freely
and openly as you can!

* The writer is program director of the Harapan Permata Hati Kita
Foundation.