The Ecstasy menace

The Ecstasy menace

Real concern appears to be growing among both the public and
government officials over the growing abuse of the drug known as
Ecstasy. After repeated warnings from local officials in Jakarta
and other big cities where abuse of the drug is rampant,
President Soeharto himself is apparently losing patience and has
reportedly ordered the closure of any entertainment
establishments found to be in any way involved in the circulation
of Ecstasy.

All this is obviously heartening, considering the grave and
damaging effects which the drug can have on users. Officially
called methylendioxymethamphetamine but popularly known as
Ecstasy, the drug is a powerful stimulant which, among moderate
users, is said to induce a feeling of euphoria and increased
energy, but which experts say also has the potential of
stimulating violent behavior. At higher levels of abuse
uncontrollably violent behavior, brain damage and even death may
occur. As some people may recall, a celebrated case of death due
to Ecstasy abuse occurred a few years ago involving several
prominent personalities from the film and entertainment world.

Thus the wide concern about Ecstasy abuse is entirely
understandable. From the business point of view, however, the
Ecstasy trade is an enticing source of huge profits. Most of the
pills that reach this country originate in Europe, particularly
the Netherlands. Since March, customs and excise officials have
confiscated more than 90,000 Ecstasy pills smuggled in from
abroad in Jakarta alone. Earlier this month two Singaporeans and
an Irishman were arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
for trying to smuggle in 20,000 Ecstasy pills.

According to knowledgeable sources in Jakarta, however, most
of the Ecstasy pills circulating in this country are diluted from
imported pills in clandestine "cottage industries", one of which
is reportedly located in the Puncak mountain resort area. The
imported pills are broken into three and mixed with other
substances to produce three "home-made" pills. According to one
source, the illicit producers can make a profit of Rp 60,000 from
selling three pills produced from a single imported one. The
average price is around Rp 120,000 per pure pill.

Through this dilution the price of the drug has apparently
been drastically lowered, which brings the pill within reach of a
much wider circle of potential users. In smaller towns the pills
can reportedly be bought for as little as Rp 20,000 each.
Obviously this practice not only widens the scope of the abuse,
it also increases the danger of damaging effects on the user due
to possible carelessness in the blending process.

Obviously, steps must be taken to stem or at least curb the
extent of Ecstasy abuse. The pertinent question is how. Of late,
officials in Jakarta and elsewhere have been busy conducting
raids on night spots and other entertainment establishments to
round up traffickers of the drug. However, these night spots --
of which Jakarta alone has more than 3,000 -- are major sources
of revenue for the city administrations and drastic measures
could harm not only the city treasuries but also the tourist
trade. Besides, night spots are not the only outlets for the
illicit trade.

We believe that while the present measures may, to a certain
degree, be effective in limiting the Ecstasy trade, a more
comprehensive approach, supported by serious research, is
warranted.