Time to take stern measures against drug traffickers

Time to take stern measures against drug traffickers

JAKARTA (JP): An estimated 3.4 million people, or a quarter of
Jakarta's total population, are known to be drug abusers. This is
the figure disclosed in a survey conducted by a consortium of
non-governmental organizations, the Program for Management and
Eradication of Drugs and Narcotics Abuse (P4) in Jakarta,
throughout rehabilitation centers for drug addicts, schools and
public places last year. In 1999 the number of estimated drug
abusers stood at only 2 million people.

The result of this survey is shocking enough, but an increase
in the number of drug addicts also means a heavier burden on the
local government. If one drug addict spends some Rp 100,000 a day
on drugs, an estimated total of 3.4 million drug abusers will
waste some Rp 340 million every day to satisfy their need for
drugs.

This astronomical sum is frightening on its own, let alone if
one takes into account the additional social costs incurred from
drug-related diseases such as AIDS.

The most alarming issue that the results of this survey bring
to our notice is that 85 percent of drug addicts are aged between
15 and 35, a fact which indicates a serious threat to the
wellbeing of our future generations. What is the right action to
take in combating drug abuse?

The following are excerpts from an interview with Arief
Rachman, renowned educator and member of the Team for Handling
Problems of Abuse of Narcotics and Addictive Substances in
Jakarta since 1980.

Question: Drug trafficking is arousing more serious alarm now.
Do you think it can be stopped at all?

Answer: Drug abuse is one of the most serious challenges
confronting us at present. The difference (from substance abuse
in the past) is that today drug abuse is practiced in a more
advanced and sophisticated manner. Before we set out to eradicate
it, we must first find out what the real causes are.

First, we can consider this matter from the drug traffickers'
side. Usually, they are people bent on earning money without much
work. If we wish to eradicate drug abuse, the government and the
community must take repressive action to ensure that these
traffickers will learn their lesson the hard way, while
discouraging others from buying narcotics.

Severe punishments must be meted out and if necessary capital
punishment will be needed. These traffickers must be made aware
that what they do will destroy the young generation.

Second, we can consider this matter from the drug addicts'
side. There are four types of drug addicts. The first type are
people afflicted with family problems. The second type are
children without a proper opportunity to show their identity.
They will use drugs only to show off. Drug addicts of the third
type are children seeking recognition from their group peers.
They will just imitate what their peers do. The last type refers
to those using drugs out of ignorance.

And the next step?

There are actually five steps to take. The first will be the
provision of information to the broader community, particularly
young people, about the hazards of drug abuse and the types of
drugs and other addictive substances.

The second step will be to educate all segments of the
community, such as parents, young people, students, and involve
them in educational activities to ensure that they are really
convinced drugs and other addictive substances are forbidden by
religion.

The third step -- an alternative step -- will be mainly
intended for young people who are in search of their own
identity. They must be allowed to take part in, for example,
arts, sports and environmental activities.

The fourth step is rehabilitation and will be taken only with
respect to those falling victim to drug addiction.

And the last step is a repressive act. The law and some
necessary regulations will be needed before this step can be
taken. A repressive act will enable drug pushers to be punished.

And the responsibility for the last step falls on the
government?

No, I don't think so. A school principal, for example, can
take repressive action. He can dismiss a student involved in drug
abuse.

Do you think drug pushers and drug users should be equally
punished?

In my opinion drug users or people using drugs only as a trend
and it is better that they be sent to rehabilitation centers. It
is true that rehabilitation efforts will take longer, but
administratively it will have a stronger effect.

However, if a drug addict is incurable, he must be expelled
from the center and then given the same treatment as a drug
pusher.

What other repressive steps do you know?

Police raids. The raids must be carried out at drug dealers'
dens. Police know where these drug dealers' dens are because they
have conducted raids many times. I'm afraid, however, that drug
trafficking will never be abolished even until the doomsday
comes. The most we can do is minimize it.

Why can't it be stopped?

Clearly, (Islam) has from the earliest of time prohibited its
followers from taking opium and other substances that can cause
intoxication ... but until now we still see (drug abuse).

Has our community control system been effective or not?

Well, I am not saying it is ineffective, but I think drug
transactions are now conducted more openly. Let me give you an
example. If we talk about a school, then we must pay close
attention to the people in the immediate vicinity around the
school. They may be cigarette, gado-gado or bakso (meatball)
vendors, or parking attendants (who push drugs to the children).
Drug-traffickers sometimes make them their agents, especially now
while life is getting increasingly harder.

I believe, therefore, that the school must take action against
the selling of drugs to its students. It must continually monitor
its surroundings, test the students' urine and undertake regular
searches in classrooms.

Why do you think young people constitute the biggest number of
drug victims?

Well, young people are in a transition from childhood to
adulthood. As children, they must obey their parents but as
adults they can think independently. As young people they are
caught in the middle. They are looking for their own identity and
will be vulnerable to any influences, including those of drugs.
However, things will be different if young people have activities
outside of school.

But those activities will not guarantee us drug-free young
people?

Not quite, but at least these activities may substantially
reduce the possibility of being influenced by narcotics. In
reality, though, even Maradona, the football superstar, can also
succumb to narcotics.

Some young victims of drug addiction come from harmonious and
religious families. How do you view this?

Young people are in a position where they can maintain a
distance from their parents. Therefore, the biggest influence
will not come from their families, but from their friends. They
may become addicted to drugs if they choose the wrong people to
associate with, regardless of the harmony in their families and
the absence of problems in their lives.

Does it mean that parents must decide who their children's
friends should be?

It is all parents' obligation to have knowledge about their
children's friends. If any of these friends are not well behaved,
parents must alert their children to it.

Who then is responsible when a child becomes a drug abuser?

It is true that children are influenced by their own families
at home and by their school. However, it is the children alone
that must bear the responsibility because parents and teachers
cannot be with them round the clock.

Are you aware of what some people believe is a conspiracy to
destroy this nation by means of drugs and narcotics?

If we read the history of nations, we'll understand that a
nation can be destroyed through morality or by means of drugs.
This suspicion is not unfounded, although research is needed to
come up with proof. (Mohammad Yazid)