Kotabaru committed to support BNNP cut off drugs chain

Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - The Kotabaru government, South Kalimantan, is committed to breaking the chain of drug trafficking in the district.


"We strongly support the efforts of the Provincial Narcotics Agency (BNNP) to cut off the chain of drug trafficking in Kotabaru," said Administrative Assistant H Hasbi M Tawab, accompanied by Expert Staff from the Regional Secretariat, Dr Cipta Waspada, Tuesday.

Previously, Head of South Kalimantan BNNP Police Brigadier General Nixon Manurung said the prevalence of drug abusers in the province had recently increased.

"Although the 2018 data is still being processed, the prevalence of narcotics abuse in 2017 rose from 1.89 percent to 1.97 percent," he said.

The prevalence rate shows the percentage of narcotics abusers of the total population. This means that from the 4.2 million inhabitants of South Kalimantan in 2017 there are 82 thousand drug abusers. "This is our challenge going forward," said Nixon.

The increasing number of abusers in South Kalimantan will make this area an easy target for narcotics smuggling. Thus it requires efforts to counteract it through a strategy to cut the level of demand.

These efforts include socialization to schools to let students know the dangers of narcotics and foster early deterrence. "If you already know the dangers of narcotics but still use it, that's called stupid," he remarked.

Other efforts is to rehabilitate people who have already become narcotics abusers. Although there is no rehabilitation center in South Kalimantan, regional public hospitals can facilitate following an MoU with the Ministry of Health.

"The funds have been allocated, but so far a lot has not been absorbed," Nixon added.