Three million addicted to drugs

Three million addicted to drugs

MEDAN, North Sumatra: At least three million Indonesians, mostly members of the younger generation, are addicted to narcotics, while the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS increased to almost 500 last year, experts said here on Wednesday.

"It is embarrassing that the youth generation, who it is hoped may develop the nation and state in the future, become the victims of drugs," Rumintan Naibaho, a legal expert from the North Sumatra capital of Medan, said.

Their existence could even destroy the country, he added.

Previous data from a hospital specialist for drug addicted patients showed that only 1.5 million Indonesians were involved in drug consumption.

Rumintan, citing the latest data from Jakarta's Indonesian Children's Welfare Foundation (YKAI) chaired by herbal medical expert Dadang Hawari, also said at 426 Indonesians had been infected with HIV and 57 others had full-blown AIDS. --Antara