DRUG ADDICTION CASES RISING IN JAMBI

JAMBI, Jambi: Drug addiction cases are increasing steadily in Jambi
province, according to data at the Orang Kito Information Center (Sikok)
Foundation.

The alarming rise in new cases is thought to have been caused by the
ease with which certain illicit substances are procured in the area.

The foundation's data, released Monday, showed up 759 addicts were
currently being treated at the drug addiction installation at the
Jambi Hospital for the Mentally Ill, an increase of 30 percent on last
year's figure.

"That number deals only with those reporting their cases for
consultation. The real numbers of drug addiction could be much higher
than that," Lamtiar Tumanggor, HIV/AIDS program coordinator at the
Sikok Foundation, said.

Lamtiar said the increase was likely due to the fact that Jambi
province is one of Indonesia's major cannabis cultivating regions.
Cannabis is commonly found growing wild in Jambi's Kerinci regency.

Even though a large quantity of the plant had already been destroyed
by authorities, many other crops were believed to be still growing, he
said.

"About 45 percent of drug-addicted patients consume cannabis," Lamtiar
said, adding the remainder were taking ecstasy.