Time to sound the alarm

Dramatic as it may seem, pathetic is probably the only word to adequately describe the direction the problem of drug abuse is taking in this country. The sale and use of soft and hard drugs seem to be on the increase among certain youths and other groups traditionally associated with drug abuse. In addition, pushers seem to no longer have any qualms peddling their illicit wares to elementary school children too young to be able to realize the long-term implications of their acts.

According to official estimates, between 1 percent and 2 percent of Indonesia's population -- that is to say, between two million and four million Indonesians -- are addicted to drugs. Officials say Indonesia today is no longer a mere transit point for the international drug trade, but has become a destination for drug barons to peddle their goods.

In Jakarta alone there are estimated to be around 1.3 million drug addicts. Amid this trend, the newly uncovered phenomenon of drug abuse among elementary school children is certainly extremely worrisome.

At one elementary school in the Kota Bambu area of Central Jakarta, teachers and city officials are reported to have recently found 20 children who are addicted to drugs. Similar cases of addiction have been reported in one of the elite schools in the Kebayoran area. The same unidentified woman who was seen near these two schools and who officials suspect is a pusher, was also seen several times hanging around a well-known junior high school in Cikini, Central Jakarta. This raises suspicions an organized drug network is at work.

As Jakarta Deputy Governor for Social Welfare Djaelani said, although drug addiction among children has been found at only one elementary school in the city, the case must not be capriciously regarded as isolated. An investigation must be undertaken to find out whether a pattern exists to indicate the work of a criminal network.

Although it would probably be going too far to talk of a sinister band of criminals out to destroy the country's younger generations, Djaelani's call for a serious effort to stop drug abuse among schoolchildren certainly deserves our wholehearted support.

The most important issues, of course, are the immediate steps that must be taken to help the affected children overcome their addictions and to arrest the rising trend of drug abuse among youths.

Although the efficacy can be doubted, the city administration's plan to send out teams of plainclothes officers to patrol schools should be commended. In the end though, it is the children's parents who will have to bear the brunt of the burden of looking after the well-being of their offspring -- in school as well as at home.

Amid all this comes the allegation that a member of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), who also happens to be the son of a top Army officer, is involved in a drug ring. This allegation, if proven true, would deal a serious blow to the nation's efforts to rebuild its institutions as a part of its drive toward a healthy democracy. Whether those who hold power are serious about their stated intention of bringing about reform will be evident from the way in which they handle this latest scandal.

Meanwhile, it is gratifying to see our top government officials are aware of the danger posed by the increase in drug trafficking in this country. Minister of Justice Muladi, for example, is planning to raise the issue in an upcoming Cabinet meeting. Among other things, what he seems to have in mind is proposing heavier sentences for drug trafficking. This sort of sincerity is needed in tackling the problem.

The choice now is between condoning drug trafficking and preserving the future of the nation by saving our younger generations.