Beware of the Dangers of Drug Abuse

· 6 minutes read

https://cdn-assetd.kompas.id/2R9GDT0T0sGGtrn5IbcAzd9_sao=/1024x497/https%3A%2F%2Fkompas.id%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F02%2F20190225_094931_1551086521.jpg — FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DHANY UNTUK KOMPAS
Arman Depari

The 26th of June is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed every year. The international day against drugs, more commonly referred to by its Indonesian initial HANI, is themed “Health for Justice, Justice for Health” this year. The theme for each year is different, and is decided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In principle, the world’s countries commemorate anti-drug day as an expression of concern and a reminder of the dangers of narcotics. These dangers require close monitoring, because they pose a potential threat for the world community, especially millennials who will become our future leaders.

The dangers of drugs should not be taken lightly. Just look at the results of the 2018 joint survey by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) involving secondary school and university students. According to the survey, 2,297,492 young people in these groups have used or use drugs.

This is proof that drug abuse and trafficking has continued to grow, which is of great concerning. Nowadays, drugs can reach anywhere. Anyone can be exposed to drugs, whatever their ages, occupation or educational background.

The drugs that are being consumed these days are not just limited to the classic and popular types of drugs such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine or amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) like sabu (crystal methamphetamine), ecstasy and yaba (a new type of sabu), which have long been in circulation in the country.

The types of drugs that are available have also increased. Today, there are new types of drugs called new psychoactive substances (NPS), of which around 800 types are available worldwide. Meanwhile, 71 new types of drugs have been found in Indonesia. A growing number of drugs are circulating in the country. Some types of NPS are far more dangerous and have an even greater multiplier effect than classic and popular drugs.

Global stance

The global policy on drug crimes refers to three UN conventions: the UNODC’s Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.

The supply side, or the means by which drugs are made available, is usually handled through eradication efforts by law enforcement.

On close examination, the three conventions take two approaches in preventing drug crimes: supply and demand. The supply side, or the means by which drugs are made available, is usually handled through eradication efforts by law enforcement.

The law is enforced in order to uncover and halt the drug distribution network and illegal trafficking. The law is enforced through a number of concerted efforts in finding, confiscating, arresting and applying severe punishment through the judicial process.

Meanwhile, demand is curbed through preventive efforts such as public campaigns, empowerment, education and counseling at every level of society.

However, the three conventions also tend to place more emphasis on law enforcement by handing down severe sanctions against drug offenders, both users and distributors.

Similarly, we have Law No. 35/2009 on narcotics. In general, this law addresses issues of eradication as part of enforcement measures, which usually end with punishment. The law gives little attention to issues of prevention. This is why the BNN\'s policy seems more inclined towards legal prosecution. Law enforcement agencies also seem to prefer imprisoning drug users rather than rehabilitating them.

Drugs users can receive good care and treatment at rehabilitation centers, and can be saved from the dangers of drugs.

Punish the perpetrators

Only two recourses exist in terms of punishment and rehabilitation. One, users/addicts caught with sufficient evidence are investigated and taken to court. This is in accordance with Article 127 of the Narcotics Law, which stipulates that individuals who are found in possession of drugs for their own use can be sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison. Two, if the individuals are not drug dealers and not involved in distribution, they can only be sent to a rehabilitation center. On the one hand, users/addicts are categorized as perpetrators; on the other, they are merely categorized as victims, not criminals, and have the right to rehabilitative care or medical treatment. According to these two views, addicts/users can be either punished or rehabilitated.

Later, an idea emerged to decriminalize users and addicts. This means that the provisions that categorize users/addicts as criminals are abolished, so that they are no longer subject to the legal process. Instead, they can receive immediate treatment or be sent to a rehabilitation center.

This stance takes the legal view that the drug user is a victim of a lesser crime that does not create casualties but the victims (users) themselves. As Article 54 of the Narcotics Law states, drug addicts must undergo rehabilitation. This stance contains a number of weaknesses. Investigators, for example, cannot maximally map the links between users and the sources of the drugs. They also cannot identify whether the individual is involved merely as a user or is a distributor.

In addition, the stance is also highly vulnerable to a change in the suspect\'s status from a user to a dealer or vice versa. Categorizing a user as a victim does not offer a deterrent effect. On the other hand, the public objects to this stance because it requires the use of state funds to treat individuals who abuse drugs, when many good members of the public face hardships in supporting their own lives.

Others think that the term “decriminalization” is applied improperly. It is better to replace the term with “depenalization”, which means that addicts/users can still be punished at court, but that the verdict is not necessarily a prison sentence: it can be replaced with social sanctions, hard labor and rehabilitation over a certain period, along with a travel ban, a visitation ban or a fine according to their wrongdoings.

This may also be useful in reducing the prison population, about 60 percent of whom are drug users. These two opinions each have strong arguments; all have advantages and disadvantages.

But throughout history, no one wants to bear the blame. Many countries in the world even consider their citizens to be victims of drug syndicates and abuse.

Even so, our main focus in the present day is a relentless effort through relevant agencies and all levels of society to save and protect the country from the threat of drugs so that the people are able to avoid and combat drug abuse, especially those of the younger generation who will become our future leaders.

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is commemorated not only to raise awareness about the increase in the number of drug abuse victims, but also to provide an occasion to evaluate the various efforts that have been made to strengthen national and global cooperation in the war on drugs.

The determination to create a healthy, intelligent and competitive population of millennials must be realized for Indonesia to shine, free from drugs.

Arman Depari, Deputy Chairman of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency

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