Young generation and narcotics

Young generation and narcotics

In its recent report, this week, the daily Kompas revealed an appalling story about the narcotics indulgence of Jakarta's elite young generation. The trade of the contraband was transparent and the drug in question was mostly of the powerful type, whose worth in cash could be equivalent to the monthly wage of common workers.

The report paints a gloomy picture of the life of our young generation. There are some who think that this evil affects only a small part of our young generation but experts believe such a scourge is like a virus, capable of spreading very quickly.

We take note that narcotics have penetrated deep into the villages with youngsters mixing their own drugs with alcoholic drinks for want of a less costly elixir.

The recent incident in the Kadipiro and Karanganyar villages in Central Java, in which 11 youths died after gulping their self-made drinks is a case in point.

The question is how to make our young generation strong enough to face the confusion of values in a rapidly changing world. It is no longer relevant to preach dogma and indoctrination of good conduct to our young nor to dismiss them all as rascals. A youth once wrote to a newspaper, venting his frustration over a lecture on juvenile delinquency.

We believe that no lectures can substitute the real life example of good conduct among parents. Indeed, examples from a correct elder generation, in all fields, including politics, social and culture, are badly needed.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta