REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Governments of Indonesia and the United States forged bilateral cooperation to decrease the demand for drugs through a workshop being held in Jakarta on March 20-21, 2018. Vice Ambassador of the United States to Indonesia Erin McKee noted that the trade and consumption of drugs was an international problem that posed a serious threat, not only to the United States and Indonesia but also to the global community.
"The availability of opium, methamphetamines, and marijuana has increased, including of new harmful drugs, as well as fentanyl and other psychoactive substances, which continue to cause serious health and social problems around the world," McKee remarked while opening the workshop here on Tuesday.
To tackle this global issue, McKee opined that two fields should be prioritized to ensure progress in business in those areas, the first being to reduce the availability of drugs by clamping down on drug trafficking organizations, controlling the production of drugs, and strengthening law enforcement efforts.
The other fields to be given priority are implementing public health responses for the prevention, treatment, and recovery support for people suffering from substance use disorders.
"Several studies have provided a stronger evidence base for interventions aimed at reducing the use of drugs and related problems, including the implementation of preventive measures in primary schools, behavioral and assisted treatment, alternatives to detention, and prevention of overdoses," she added.
The event titled "Indonesia-US Drug Demand Reduction Workshop" was held to enhance bilateral relations between the Governments of Indonesia and the United States and to offer a better understanding of ways to reduce the demand for drugs in countries as well as opportunities for future collaboration.
Meanwhile, Deputy for Rehabilitation of the National Narcotics Agency Diah Setia Utami stated that Indonesia had continued to adopt and apply international standards in its strategies to curb the demand for drugs. "In achieving the community goals, it has begun with steps taken in the areas of education, prevention, and post-rehabilitation and also promotion of health and prosperity of individuals, families, and society," she explained.
Indonesia is currently in a state of drug emergency. According to data of the National Narcotics Agency, the number of drug users in Indonesia has reached 5.1 million, while 15 thousand people die every year due to drug abuse.
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