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Statistics only the tip of the iceberg in nation's grave drug problem
The most recent statistics speak of an unnerving phenomenon of increasing drug abuse, especially among younger people
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he most recent statistics speak of an unnerving phenomenon of increasing drug abuse, especially among younger people.
A February 2013 joint report by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime points out that although cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug in Indonesia, the country now faces the looming threat of the manufacture, trafficking and use of crystalline methamphetamine. Meth seizures soared 79 percent in 2011, to 1,161 kg from the 649 kg seized in 2010.
As the world observes International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, one in three drug users in Indonesia ' estimated to range from 3.7 to 4.7 million ' used crystal meth, and one in five used ecstasy during the year.
For psychologist Kasandra Putranto, who has worked with drug abusers for the past 16 years, cold hard numbers do not mean much anymore, and probably do not tell the whole story.
Instead, it is her dealing directly with her patients, some as young as 13 years old, that reveal the true picture.
'No one has a fully accurate account of the real number of illegal drug users out there, because our legal system has yet to allow such recording,' Kasandra complained.
'And so we rely on hospitals and rehabilitation centers to count their patients, some of which have reported double-recordings, and others easily lose track of those who move in and out from the area. We can't confirm if the numbers are only rising now or if we've been living in oblivion all this time. But for sure, it's only the tip of the iceberg.'
The amount and type of illicit drug products have grown enormously over the years, confirms Kasandra. Indonesia is no longer a distant land for the use of amphetamine-type stimulants, but is today known to be a fertile ground for users of hallucinogens (such as magic mushrooms, ecstasy, Phencyclidine) and depressants (including heroin, cannabis and other opium derivatives).
'Traditional thinking puts the blame on broken homes or the fact that the drugs are so widely available, but that's not the right perspective,' said Kasandra, who has worked closely with BNN.
Home front
What should be the focus in the fight against illicit drug use, she says, is eliminating the underlying causes of what she terms 'a national disaster'.
That fight should start from home.
'Parents need to look hard at themselves and their parenting. It's as simple as telling your kids to stand up for themselves, that they don't have to fall victim to what anyone out there expects them to do, because you will love them no matter what.'
She shared a story of how a young client's mother happened to overhear a phone conversation between her 16-year-old daughter and a schoolmate.
'Her daughter was having trouble with mathematics, and the friend had suggested that if girl took some pills, her math might improve. Her mother rushed to her side, telling her she would always love her, that math isn't the only thing that matters and that her daughter could pursue any other dream she might have.'
As role models, she says, parents have a vital part to play ' one that cannot be filled by anyone else.
Along with individual approaches, community-based or behavioral avenues are also employed in targeting and rehabilitating drug users. Last week, BNN kick-started a futsal club at Kampung Ambon, a neighborhood in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, that is notorious for drug trafficking. Speaking to the media at the event, BNN's director of alternative empowerment Rospen Sitindjak expressed hope the club would serve as a beacon for a healthier lifestyle and social activities.
At the very least, it's a noble attempt, along with other approaches that call on different types of therapies, from medical to spiritual, to end drug abuse.
Direct consequences of illegal drugs include crime, domestic violence, accidents, the devaluation of human potential as well putting social and economic pressure on society in general.
Dependence on illegal drugs also leads to high risks of infectious diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis, according to the Maryland-based National Institute on Drug Abuse, which names substance abuse as a major vector for the transmission of many serious infectious diseases.
When combined with alcohol, the matter becomes worse. Cocaine, for example, if consumed with alcohol, results in a greater risk of overdose and sudden death than either drug alone. In the case of abuse of inhalants and alcohol, there is an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular effects. As for heroin or opium, long-term effects include collapsed veins, infection of heart lining and valves, arthritis or other rheumatologic problems, HIV and hepatitis C. In combination with alcohol, the health effects of street opioids become graver, which include slowdown of heart rate and respiration, coma or even death.
Though the skies may look gray at the moment, Kasandra still has high hopes for the future. One of her clients started using illegal drugs at the age of 17.
'It took years to get him clean, but he's turned out alright,' she says. That former client is now a legislator, she added.
Running the risk
'¢ Several factors contribute to higher risks for drug addiction, such as individual biology (genes combined with environmental influences), social environment (varies from family and friends to socioeconomic status and quality of life) and developmental stages (the earlier drug use begins, the bigger the chance it will turn into a more serious abuse). The more risk factors that person has, the greater the chance he or she becomes addicted to drugs.
'¢ Warning signs that someone may have a drug abuse problem: relying on drugs or alcohol to have fun; having blackouts; withdrawing from friends and family; losing interest in activities that used to be important; lying, stealing or selling stuff to get money for drugs or alcohol.
'¢ Drug abuse (drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, taking illegal drugs) can cause permanent damage to the user's health. Some long-term effects include confusion, anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, nausea, shaking, headache, schizophrenic and psychotic behavior, mood disturbances, potential damage to brain, liver, kidneys and heart. There are also elevated risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and also for the sexual partners of drug users.
'¢ Drug users tend to be unable to recognize their own problem, so friends and family would have to step in, the so-called 'intervention'. The best way to start is to convince the person suspected of using an illegal substance that he or she has someone to lean on. The next step is to contact local resources for help.
'¢ Drug addiction is preventable. Research by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse has proven the effectiveness of prevention programs that involve families, schools, communities and the media. '¢Education and outreach are of the utmost important in relaying the risks of drug abuse to the youth and the general public.
'¢ Psychologist Kasandra Putranto suggests building a trust platform early in a child's life and continuously nurturing it. Parents, she says, are the best and most significant role models for a child. '¢Most cases of drug abuse in teens result from or have to do with communication disconnect between parents and their children.
Web resources: National Institute on Drug Abuse, kidshealth.org
