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his letter refers to '€œJokowi renews call for tough action on drug abuse, trafficking,'€ (The Jakarta Post, June 27).

I hope that President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo is able to enact and enforce the same treatment under the law for government officials, officers and locals found to be part of drug-trafficking networks that his administration has shown in its punishment of foreign drug smugglers. This would take us a large leap forward in combating drug production and distribution rings.  

Additionally, he should push for new laws that automatically indict drug traffickers under money laundering and tax evasion laws. He should look at the way the Internal Revenue Service in the US handles individuals that profit from illegal activities as an example of how to seize drug-related assets. Assets that are seized should be used specifically to assist in funding '€œthe other side'€.  

The other side is defined as drug users and potential drug users. Creating rehabilitation centers, updating existing rehabilitation techniques and psychiatric treatments, creating outreach and support systems for '€œgraduated'€ (rehabilitated) individuals and implementing education programs about the effects of drugs in schools are just a few possible programs that the funds could be used for.   

An increased punish and reward system to pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies provide raw materials for narcotics production, (again like in the US) would also be beneficial. This problem requires addressing supply as well as demand.  As the current supply is cut, the demand also can simultaneously decrease.

As has been mentioned before, increasing job opportunities across all sectors will also naturally help to alleviate demand for drugs. As many have noted, the drug epidemic is not solely caused by '€œforeigners'€, but also by locals and government officials.  

Deddy K
Jakarta