The war on drugs is not only arresting drug lords but also treating drug users to prevent them from falling victim.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Drug users must not be imprisoned but must be provided assistance so that they can break free from the trap of drugs, Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Inspector General Fadil Imran has said.
"The war on drugs is not only arresting drug lords but also treating drug users to prevent them from falling victim," he said in Jakarta on Monday.
It is no use imprisoning drug users, he said.
"If they must be sent to jail, then how much the state will spend on places and foods at the correctional facility?” he asked.
Therefore, he asked residents to keep watch on the behavior of their close acquaintances.
If they see any suspicious behavior, they should not hesitate to report it to the police to get assistance, he said.
"Check yourself, check your children, check your family. If they cannot do that, they can notify the Jakarta Metropolitan Police. We will help them," he added.
According to data provided by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the number of drug users in the country rose by 1.95 percent in 2021 compared to 1.8 percent in 2019.
Women's risk of being exposed to drugs also rose to 1.21 percent in 2021 from 0.20 percent in 2019.
The data also suggested that 88.4 percent of drug users are influenced by friends.
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Translator: Fianda Sjofjan R, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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