Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) this year launched a village or urban village free from drugs. It is hoped this step will increase public awareness about the dangers of drug viruses that must be prevented as well as eradicated.
"We want the public to be more concerned with providing information if there is trafficking and bringing addict to treatment," said BNNP South Kalimantan Chief Brig. Gen. Pol Nixon Manurung, Monday (11/2).
He revealed the number of abusers in South Kalimantan is currently increasing, and there must be various ways to suppress it.
Based on the results of the University of Indonesia's research, in 2017 the prevalence rate rose from 1.89 to 1.97. This means, if the adult population of South Kalimantan is about 3,250,000, the number of abusers is around 60,000.
"This is our homework. So this year we are launching a village or urban village free from drug. We are motivating village officials to really care about creating their territory clean of drugs," Nixon explained to the Antara News Agency.
In the future, Nixon added, the village really plays a role and cares for its citizens. If there are residents who are known to be drug users, they are immediately persuaded to be taken to the local BNN or health center and hospitals that provide outpatient services for rehabilitation programs for narcotics addicts spread across 13 districts and cities in South Kalimantan.
Nixon acknowledged the level of awareness and concern of the people is still very low for the addicts whose essence are the victim to be cured immediately.
"Throughout 2018 only around 1,000 users came to the BNN Pratama Clinic, both outpatient and hospitalized," he said.
