Budi Waseso Creates New Concept to Rehabilitate Drug Addicts

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-The National Narcotics Agency is creating a new nature-based rehabilitation concept for drug addicts to replace the old concept that always put addicts in rehabilitation center. “Drug addicts will be placed outdoor,” said BNN spokesperson Sen. Comr. Slamet Pribadi on Tuesday, September 29.

The nature-based rehabilitation concepts was proposed by BNN chief Budi Waseso so that drug addicts can be independent and survive in the wild. “Mr. Budi Waseso hopes they can survive,” he said, adding that drug addicts will still be accompanied by counselors, doctors and psychologists.

According to Slamet, the current rehabilitation concept gives no positive impact to drug addicts because most of them would use use drugs again after they were out of rehabilitation center. BNN has not decided the location for rehabilitation. “The location can be in a remote island or in a forest,” said Slamet.

Therapy and Rehabilitation deputy Diah Setia Utami said rehabilitation in the nature is still being discussed. She said recovery in the nature has actually been implemented, but only after rehabilitation.

According to Diah, the post-rehabilitation program in the nature last or two months at Tamling, Lampung and Bengo-Bengo in South Sulawesi. In Bengo-bengo, the former drug addicts are in a jungle where they make beehives to produce honey. “The honey is sold and they can make money,” she said.

In Tamling, Lampung, nothing is sold because they are only taught to clean beaches and return stranded fish to the sea.

According to Mulyanto, BNN’s psychologist in Lido, nature-based rehabilitation method has many obstacles. It is not unusual that those who are in the program escape because they cannot cope with the method. “If we want this concept to work, we have to think about the location because it’s difficult and costly,” he said.

Mulyanto said in nature-based rehabilitation, the drug addicts must be ensured that they go with the program until finished. “Many people must look out for them,” he said. 

AFRILIA SURYANIS