ELIMINATION OF A GENERATION

26 June is commemorated as the International Anti-Drug Day. According to the latest survey, around 1.5% of Indonesia population are inflicted in drug abuse. However, the result number in this survey, does not show the real problem in the society and the number may increase when we consider the actual drug abuse in community. In every major cities in Indonesia, drug problems become the main element in moral and physical decadence especially among youths. Even this problem has penetrated small town which for long time considered as drug-free area. Government along with evry social elements have drained a lot of resources trying to solve this problem but uptill now, the number keep on growing instead of falling.

There are many factors why Indonesia has to face such a hugh problem. for many years, Indonesia was considered as the transit area between The Golen Triangle area of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar to East Asia and Australia. But now, Indonesia has become one of the mai producer in Asia especially for drug in Amphetaminae class and ecstasy. Indonesia's geographical situation which close to Mallacan Peninsula and Australia has give the advantage as the bridge between the two region which in result, to cut the production cost, the production is resettled in Indonesia. The loose border control has make it easy for the international narcotic network to smuggle their product in and out Indonesia.


The factor above is only the external geograpical element of the problem. Internally, the obstacle to eliminate drg abuse are more complicated. Strong effort has been shown by Indnesia government - institutionally. But it is a common knowledge in the society that most of drug lords are backed by persons in the army and the police corp. Even in some cases, drug lord whom jailed for years stil able to control his business from inside prison. Tis fact show us that even punishment system in Indonesia is not strong enough to strangle drug network in Indonesia. and also this is the proof of how corrupt is law enforcement in Indonesia. This reality will lead to unimplemented policies of the government. So many cases where persons inthe enforcement agencies are inflicted in drug abuse either as user or dealer. The persons inflicted were not stricted in low rank level but also up to the high rank level.

So much so, the permissive behaviour in the community only worsen the problem. In urban area where the life complexity is higher than in the rural area either in composition wise or in economical demand, the permissive attitude has become common phenomena. It is so easy to rive an issue from a simple one to a more complex one. And also cultural differences between ethnics which comprise urban population make communal control loose.

In a polpulation where poverty an unemployment rate are so high as Indonesia, te economic burden has become the main factor to psh drug abuse and drug trafficking. Betwen youth in Indonesia, it is easy to earn money in drug business where they could easily get the supply and consumer among themselves.

Hugh amount of money is circulated in drug business in Indonesia itself. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent ach year in drg consumption in Indonesia which if this money is invested in education will surely give a better standard of educationas well as cheaper education in Indonesia.

If the drug problem in Indonesia ould not be solve or at last reduced, in a decade, one generation of Indonesian will loose their ability to compete in international market. it is not only government's responsibility to solve this problem but everyone shold joint forces to destroy drug network in Indonesia.