T

he local government is helping a youngster end his addiction to gasoline, which has been so bad in recent days that he has had to steal to quench his thirst when he is has no money to buy the poisonous fuel.

The 18-year-old, Salamun, a resident of Pasir Garam village, says he has to drink several liters of gasoline a day to remain in good spirits.

'€œIt all began years ago when I did what my peers did and now gasoline has become a daily basic need,'€ Salamun told kompas.com on Thursday.

Thanks to social media, Salamun'€™s unusual addiction has come to the attention of Central Bangka deputy regent Patrianusa Sjahrun, who is concerned about the fuel'€™s adverse impact on the teenager'€™s health.

'€œI have seen the young man'€™s condition. From the way he talked, I saw no worrying [health] problem, except that he looked physically weak,'€ Patrianusa said. '€œHis addiction is so strong that he loses spirit when he doesn'€™t consume gasoline.'€

Salamun admitted that on several occasions he had stolen gasoline from parked vehicles when he ran out and had no money to buy any.

The official planned to refer Salamun to a psychiatrist to help him kick the habit, in a follow-up to the youngster'€™s claim that he was only one of many people addicted to the substance.