Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - To deal with drug addicts is a daily life for this woman. To save the abuser from the entanglement of addictive substances, is her enthusiasm in the task that motivates.
Dr. Hj Sandra, a graduate of the Sriwijaya University School of Medicine, has since 2013 joined the South Kalimantan National Narcotics Agency (BNNP). Initially she served in the Community Empowerment Sector later in the Field of Rehabilitation in 2015, until finally Sandra was trusted as the Head of the Rehabilitation Division of BNNP South Kalimantan.
Sandra acknowledged the rehabilitation program for drug addicts echoed by the National Narcotics Agency was still not optimal due to the minimal number of abusers who followed it. In fact, the number of victims of abuses is estimated to continue to increase from year to year as circulation is increasingly rampant.
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The South Kalimantan BNNP estimates there are 59,000 drug users here. The prevalence rate rose from 1.7 to 1.89. That is, if the population of South Kalimantan is around 3,250,000 adults, then there are nearly 60,000 abusers.
If the prevalence is in number 2 then enter the red zone. While South Kalimantan is still in the yellow category. Even so, according to Sandra, the condition is already worrying because the trend continues to increase, not the opposite which is expected to decline.
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Throughout 2019 from January to June, only 284 people participated in rehabilitation programs at BNNP and BNK in South Kalimantan.
The revealed addicts also vary in age and professional background. Based on age group, age 0-15 years 22 people, age 16-19 years 82 people, age 20-24 years 69 people, age 25-40 years 94 people, age 41-59 years 16 people, age 60-79 years 1 person.
Then by sex, 271 men and 13 women, including 3 housewives.
For education level, S2 (master degree) is only one person, S1 (bachelor) is 12 people, D3 is nine people, and 99 people from high school, 92 from junior school, 53 of elementary and 18 people who have never educated.
As for the type of work, 17 are State Civil Apparatus (ASN), 83 private employees, 22 entrepreneurs, one member of the National Police, eight workers, four students, 67 students, and 75 unemployed.
While based on the type of substance consumed, the most methamphetamine is 160 people, followed by 46 addicted to Carnophen drugs or popularly called Zenith, eight addicted to ecstasy, 24 people glue and one drug Dextro.
"Our target at BNNP South Kalimantan this year is 200 addicts can be recruited to join the healing program. Until now, only 78 people. So we are still trying to find addicts to be invited to undergo rehabilitation. This task is quite heavy because there is no addict or family awareness," Sandra said when she was met at the BNNP office on Jalan DI Pandjaitan Banjarmasin.
The woman born in Banjarmasin on September 15, 1963, admitted that she was very happy if addicts came voluntarily asking for rehabilitation.
On the contrary, her heart will be sliced sadly when she sees there are drug addicts whose condition are sad. Economically disadvantaged, even under poverty line, but actually abusers.
"For example, there is one family in Banjarmasin from husband, wife and children who all use meth and Carnophen. Even though their work is only parking. This is very heartbreaking and makes us concerned," she said.
So far, those who come to BNNP were addicts whose already in badly condition marked by raging and threatening the family because their demand for drugs was not fulfilled.
"Parents then ask for help from the police to bring them to the Narcotics Agency. Ironically, those like this also often did not complete the rehabilitation program. Usually after the assessment and counseling they were gone and have not returned," said Sandra.
In addition to hospitalization for three months at the Sambang Lihum Mental Hospital for those whose conditions were very severe, there were also outpatients for four times of counseling which continued after rehab to be able to recover productively.
"After the rehab, we will visit to see the development. We also have vocational programs. So they they are given training and assistance. For example, computer tutoring, fisheries or agriculture," Sandra said again.
She appealed to parents to bring their children who were indicated as addicts to the BNNP or the local BNK to immediately get rehabilitation after going through assessment from a team of doctors and psychologists.
