RESIDENTIAL CARE OFFERS HOPE FOR DRUG ADDICTS

SURABAYA (JP): The corner house located in a middle class housing
complex of Prapen Indah looks just like the any other house in the
neighborhood.

In fact, the quiet Graha Panca Atma is a newly established
rehabilitation center for drug addicts. The clinic, which can
accommodate about 20 people, is built on a 600 square meter plot of
land and has nine bedrooms for women on the first floor and another 11
bedrooms for men upstairs.

First class bedrooms come with air conditioning, TV and a
refrigerator. In the second class rooms, air conditioners are the only
amenity and only fans are made available in the third-class rooms.

"The idea to start the center came five years ago. It became more
urgent as more people have fallen victim to drugs over the past few
years," said Dr. Willy Fransiscus Maramis, one of the founders of
Panca Atma Foundation which manages Graha Panca Atma.

There are another four doctors running the foundation, Soedomo
Mergonoto, Fattyawan Kintono, Ignatius Darmawan Budianto and Iman
Santoso Sardjono -- all are experienced in handling drug addiction.

They work at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, the Navy Hospital, Menur
Surabaya Mental Hospital and Lawang Mental Hospital. Between them,
they have expertise in general practice, psychiatry and psychology.

The increasing number of drug patients at their private clinics and
workplaces motivated them to pay more attention to the problem. They
used to have one drug patient a month, now Maramis alone handles four
to five patients a week.

According to Dr. Maramis, those addicted to shabu-shabu (crystal
methampethamine) make up the majority of patients.

"They account for more than 50 percent of the patients," he
said.

The rest are addicts of putauw (low-grade heroin) and ecstasy.
Handling patients is nothing new for the doctors, but taking
residential care of them like at Graha Panca Atma is different.

"Most of them come to Graha Panca Atma because their parents or
relatives ask them to do so. Some stay long term, others pay a short
visit and leave never to be seen again," Maramis said.

Destructive

According to Dr. Maramis, shabu-shabu is the most destructive drug
because it destroys the nervous system and the brain. The victims may
become paranoid, over sensitive, aggressive, suspicious, jealous, and
easily provoked. Addicted married couples may fight; a young man may
destroy home or office furniture. Ecstasy addicts, by comparison, are
usually not aggressive; and putauw addicts are even calmer.

"Their problem is the addiction itself, which is very difficult to
cure. Often, the addict seems to have kicked the habit but the
addiction may come back at any moment. But they are harmless." said
Maramis.

At Graha Panca Atma, the patients are given a two step treatment. The
first step involves reducing the level of drug consumption, or
detoxification.

During this period, their drug consumption is reduced gradually and
eventually stopped altogether. After 10 to 14 days of medication, the
rehabilitation program starts.

"This is more difficult and it takes longer," said
Maramis.

For this three month rehabilitation period the patients stay at the
center.

"If at this stage they are returned to the community, they may resume
the habit because they will find it difficult to resist the drug
dealers' offers."

Graha Panca Atma offers four categories of rehabilitation: physical,
mental, social, and spiritual.

In physical rehabilitation, the patients are allowed time for
exercises. Mental rehabilitation is involves the use of psychotherapy.
While in social rehabilitation, the patients are engaged in social
activities. For spiritual rehabilitation, the center guides the
patients in the practice of their religious beliefs.

Whatever treatments the patient may receive at the center, the care
shown by his or her family and the attitude of society in general are
the keys to success. According to Maramis, many people still see drugs
addicts as criminals. "They are not, they are victims."

Maramis is pessimistic that the problem of drug abuse will improve in
the near future.

"Our guess is that the problem will worsen. Look, drug dealers are
still free and the authorities are involved in the business," he said.

Graha Panca Atma is the first private clinic for drug addicts in
Surabaya. The city used to have only one center, which was run by the
local government.

Security is tight here. Security guards and nurses work 24 hours a
day. Visitors are thoroughly checked, and are not allowed to bring
mobile phones in with them, to prevent unnecessary communications with
outsiders.

Among the patients are a man from Jember, who is always accompanied by
his wife, and a young student accompanied by his mother.

There were only five patients there two weeks ago, most of them are in
their 30s and married. Maramis and his colleagues treat more patients
at their private clinics.

Maramis refused to disclose the exact cost of the center. He only said
that the minimum cost is Rp 50,000 a day for those staying in the
third class rooms.