PDF (Lessons learned in drug abuse prevention: a global review)

LOCAL
Mobilising Families and Communities for Drug Abuse
Prevention at the Grassroots Level
REGION:
East and South East Asia
COUNTRY: Indonesia
Organisation: RECON-INDO
TARGET GROUPS:
● Parents
● Community institutions
● Youth (12-25 years)
SETTINGS:
● Community/Neighbourhood
IMPLEMENTING AGENTS:
● Parent peer educators
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PROJECT PURPOSE:
Training and educating parents
linked with community
mobilisation to engage in
drug abuse prevention activities
in 15 neighbourhoods.
COST: US $8,000 for one year
DURATION: 16 months
Recognition Award to Parent Educators for Prevention by the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mrs. Khofifah, for
their dedication and commitment in drug prevention at the grassroots level.
Background:
Over the past five years, illicit drug abuse, production and trafficking in Indonesia have
increased and spread at an alarming rate, causing severe social, political and economic
problems. Data indicates a threefold increase of total illicit drug abuse between 1997
and 1999; the number of abusers of ganja (marijuana) increased by 400% between
1997 and 2000; and the number of Amphetamine Type-Stimulant (ATS) abusers
increased by 356% over the past 4 years 1 . The rising trend toward injecting opiate has
also become a problem for Indonesia, and has brought with it an increased threat of
HIV/AIDS. Sharing injecting equipment is common. There is significant and widespread
evidence of sexual behaviour patterns characterised by multiple sex partners and low
condom use. BKNN, the National Coordinating Body for Narcotics Control, estimated
a total of 13,000 drug users in Indonesia in 1999, but this official figure, in light of the
absence of comprehensive data, is seen by many to be relatively low. The Ministry of
Health estimates 1 million drug users in Indonesia. Of these, 60% are injecting drug
users, of whom 70% share needles and 15% are HIV/AIDS positive. The majority of
drug abusers are between the ages of 15 and 25, although an upward trend has been
noted amongst school children as well as young executives and workers. Indonesia is
no longer just a transit area for drugs: it has become a target destination and a major
market for illicit drugs.
At the community level, drug dealing on street corners is a common complaint
amongst the residents. Drug dealers in the neighbourhoods are known, but generally
no one reports them. In some areas, certain groups of young people using drugs have
influenced, pressured or harassed others to do so. This situation has created fear and
anxiety amongst the local people, particularly parents concerned about the impact
of this problem on their children's lives. Parents are often left alone with the task of
protecting their children from drug abuse and lack adequate knowledge about drugs
and their own preventive roles. Parents need all the help they can get from the communityto
support their children in resisting drugs, but support from the communityis
often minimal and weak. Considering the complexity of the drug problem at the local
level, the challenge in addressing it is to enhance parents' strengths and to mobilise
community groups as their strong allies in drug abuse prevention.
Sources: 1 National Narcotics Coordinating Board (BKNN)