Youths exposed to HIV/AIDS through intravenous drug use
Youths exposed to HIV/AIDS through intravenous drug use
By I Wayan Juniarta
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): On Tuesday morning David was informed
that once again a young drug-user had died of an overdose, while
another young user was dying in a hospital bed after shooting up
low-quality heroine.
"This job is not getting any easier by the day. We keep
witnessing young guys we know fall prey to a painful death caused
by drug addiction. And, I mean, those deaths really ate a big
portion of my heart, and made me think a lot," David said sadly.
A field-worker for the Denpasar-based Yayasan Hati-hati
Foundation, a non-government organization active in raising
awareness among Intravenous Drug Users (IDU) about HIV/AIDS
issues, David has witnessed the pain and suffering IDUs have to
endure. Yet, nothing had prepared him to face the series of drug-
related deaths like the ones that occurred over the last few
weeks.
There are no precise details available on the number or the
precise causes of death. But David recalls the way three users
died in Buleleng regency, North Bali last week.
They injected the drug at the same time and three days later they
died of an overdose also at the same time.
Low-quality heroine is responsible for most casualties. Drug
producers reportedly mixed the drug with other substances so they
can sell it at lower prices to cater to the low-income users.
"Most of the IDUs do not come from wealthy families, so the
economic crisis really affects their buying power," the
foundation chairwoman Yacintha EM Desembriartista said.
Low-quality drugs are not the only threats the IDUs must face.
Even more dangerous is the transmission of HIV/AIDS from used and
shared needles.
"Users' bad habits such as sharing needles will likely result
in HIV/AIDS transmission," Yacintha said.
Data from the Ministry of Health showed that in November 2000
the number of IDUs who contracted HIV/AIDS had reached 238 out of
the total 1,559 HIV/AIDS cases recorded in that month.
"We believe that the number will increase and multiply very
rapidly unless we succeed in raising the awareness among the IDU
community, and also provide them with tools and methods to
prevent transmission," Yacintha said.
A 1998 survey conducted in Bali showed that 73.3 percent of
users always shared needles with other users and only 13.3
percent of the users did not practice such a habit.
Moreover, although 83.3 percent of them claimed that they
knew how to clean a syringe, it turned out that 70 percent
cleaned the syringe with water only.
Shockingly, zero percent of users used new needles every time
they injected drugs.
The survey was conducted in Denpasar and Kuta by a number of
concerned young people including I Made Setiawan, Jane Patten,
Agus Triadi, Steve Yulianto, IPG Terryl Adnyana, and M Arief.
And, the survey was later published in The 1999 International
Journal of Drug Policy.
"Made Setiawan with several other friends afterward
established this foundation to specifically address the issue of
HIV/AIDS and the IDU's community," Yacintha explained.
The foundation has already launched a number of awareness
campaigns and programs on the danger of the HIV/AIDS targeting
drug users.
Most of the programs focused on harm reduction efforts, such
as introducing the users to the correct and effective way to
clean needles and syringes.
There were times when the foundation also distributed
free needles, cleaning substance, and condoms, of course, to the
IDUs.
"It is not an easy job. The IDU communities are very closed;
they do not trust people easily. So you have to win their trust,
which usually takes a lot of time, before you can introduce new
things and methods to them," David said.
The foundation's compassionate approach toward the IDUs, has
often put the foundation in a risky position. It has endured the
misperception, suspicion, and prejudice of the local community
and the local government, not to mention, the local police.
"One of our volunteer got busted when the police raided an
IDUs hide out. There were and are still rumors that young people
use the foundation's office as a place to get 'high'," Yacintha
said.
Yacintha explained that many people perceived the foundation
as a bunch of young people who condone drug using activities.
Those people, she said, have ignored the fact that the foundation
also provides comprehensive counseling programs to help users
discard the dangerous habit.
"Our ultimate aim is to free them from the claws of narcotics
and, during the process, we also inform about how to protect
themselves from the danger of HIV/AIDS," Yacintha said.
Up to now more than 300 drug users, 176 of them IDUs, have
been touched and reached by this foundation's programs. There are
approximately 5,000 IDUs in Bali today according to estimates of
local police.
Yet, this 27-year-old activist admitted that things are
getting better these days, with the police finally acknowledging
the foundation's efforts. And the local community leaders now
deliberately ignore the rumors and gossip that are frequently
targeted toward the foundation.
But, Yacintha also admitted that two years after the 1998
survey the dangerous habit of needle sharing is still widely
practiced in IDU communities. The expensive price of needles, and
the reluctance of certain pharmacists to sell needles to users
are the reasons behind this sad phenomenon.
"I know a user who kept using the same needle until it
was worn out, rusty, and, finally broke inside his arm.
His arm swelled badly and the needle had to be surgically removed
from his arm," she said.
She also described that nowadays drug problems occur both in
major cities such as Denpasar, Kuta, and in small villages in
Ubud, Singapadu, Celuk, Tabanan, and Negara as well.
"We must act quickly otherwise the habit will claim more of
our younger generation in the future," she stated.