Fewer takers for some drug rehab programs

Sunday, March 21, 2004

Father Johanness "Hanny" Osbourne Repi from Rumah Anak Panah drug rehabilitation center said there were fewer patients signing up for his drug treatment program.
"Most of them now prefer to do counseling instead of taking the whole program , which takes 14 months. It not only happens here but also at other centers," he said recently.
But drug addicts are not decreasing in number, shown by this year's survey by Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB) in cooperation with the National Narcotics Board and the University of Indonesia's Institute of Applied Psychology.
The survey said that one in 10 families in Jakarta, a city with a populated estimated at 12 million, has a member involved in drug abuse, and that 97 percent of Jakartans surveyed know the danger of drugs yet 80 percent are still using.
Many of the families with drug users have monthly income below Rp 1 million. Financial constraints may also be a reason fewer people are signing up for the rehab.
"It seems that many parents don't care anymore. They're tired of being constantly disturbed by the drug problem, which costs them money, time and energy," said Hanny.
Many of the centers are forced to actively look for clients, he said.
"Budi", a patient at Nurul Alam mosque in Pedongkelan, North Jakarta, argued that many rehab centers only thought about the profits to be made.
"I've been in dozens of rehab centers, the famous ones -- you name it, I've been there," he said, mentioning some of the most prominent drug treatment centers in the country.
He recounted the terrible bullying at one Islamic drug rehab school.
"It's better here at Nurul Alam. It's free of charge, except for food which is up to us how much we give. It's better free but with benefits," Budi said.
Religious teacher Ridwan from Nurul Alam said that he does not care if people term his method ineffective.
Within the past three years, there have been around 100 drug addict and mentally ill people who have been treated at the mosque.
"There have been a few failures, sure. Most of them want to shorten the program. We can't force them. So far, I'm not looking for popularity. We don't set a high target. Look at this place, it's not even decent. We're just here to help," he said.
-- Hera Diani

Labels: drugs

Posted by hera at 2:11 AM | Permalinks | Comments

Hard line of religion used to treat addiction

Sunday, March 21, 2004
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It was not a pretty picture: A shabby little mosque in a dark alley, filled with puddles of mud because of the heavy rain, with a foul odor emanating from the nearby river and traditional market.
Passing through the curved hole in the wall of an entrance, the sight inside was even more disturbing, with several men chained to poles on the mosque's verandah.
"Some are mentally ill, some are drug addicts," said Ridwan, 57, a religious teacher and "manager" of the Nurul Alam mosque in the Pedongkelan slum in North Jakarta -- notorious as a place for prostitutes, the homeless and criminals.
He denied that chaining the addicts was inhumane, and argued it was to ensure their proper supervision.
"It's actually inhumane if we set them free. The biggest obstacle for the addicts is their circle of friends, which will cause a relapse. A drug addict can be very destructive, they are no longer human," said the small man in between chess games and cigarettes.
So, chained they are, their heads shaved cleans and given saline solution to detoxify the body. The main focus is doing various religious activities, including communal praying, Koran reciting, sermons and religious retreats to other towns or province.
The most severe cases of addiction will be put into a one meter by one meter box to "contemplate, know their self and their enemies".
"They are told to have faith. All of those problems are rooted in a crisis in faith. People don't know about belief, sin ..."
In a country where religious values are brought in to many issues -- from the gyrating dance of dangdut singer Inul Daratista (sinful) to karaoke and ballroom dancing programs on local television (inappropriate) -- it is no wonder that people also turn to religion to treat drug addiction.
The oldest and most prominent institution running such a rehabilitation program is probably the Inabah teenage dormitory owned by Pesantren Suryalaya school of Koranic Studies in Tasikmalaya, West Java.
Established almost a century ago, the school started its drug rehabilitation program in 1970 and now has expanded to 19 centers all over the country.
The method is said to be taken from the Holy Koran which includes continual praying and taking a shower up to three times a day -- one in the middle of the night.
It is reported that up to 10,000 troubled teens have been treated in the dorm, with the success percentage said to be 90 percent.
Aside from Inabah, there are plenty of other schools all over the country offering a religious approach, for instance one in Bogor, West Java, owned by Muslim cleric Toto Tasmara.
Within Christian communities, prominent names include the Doulos Foundation owned by the leader of the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) Ruyandi Hutasoit; Rumah Anak Panah rehabilitation center and Yayasan Anak Domba Allah (Lamb of God Foundation).
Father Johannes "Hanny" Osbourne Repi acknowledged that the religious approach can be a selling point for a drug rehabilitation center.
"Especially for parents, because of the security, faith and belief," said Hanny, who in 2001 was among the recipients of the National Figure of Drugs Awareness.
"We don't impose our beliefs, though, we just give them the picture. But in fact, miracles have occurred (in the treatment)."
Mere religious teaching, however, is not enough, Hanny said, as it has to be integrated with medical treatment, social activities and family counseling.
"Right now, however, we're more focused on an aftercare program and monitoring our clients -- we call them students, so that there will not be cases of relapse. It is important, because even those who have been clean for four years can go back to drugs," said Hanny at his office on Jl. Kran V No. 3 in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Except at Nurul Alam, located at Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan No. 1, the religious approach does not come for free.
Hanny charges Rp 2.5 million a month for the full 14-month program. On average, Rp 2.5 million to Rp 5 million is the fee charged by Islamic schools and other rehabilitation centers.
The Inabah dorm, meanwhile, charges Rp 50,000 a day.
"I give a cross subsidy for poor clients. However, many families pretend to be poor, perhaps because they have spent so much money to treat the drug addict," said Hanny.
Others contend that it takes more than religious teachings to completely wean drug addicts off their habit.
According to AIDS activist Nafsiah Mboi, whether the religious route works depends on the addicts' personalities and level of addiction.
"The higher the level, the more difficult it is to be treated, because there have been some changes in the brain. They easily miss the drugs, and if they come back to their fellow addicts, it easy to relapse," she said.
The religious approach will also not work if it is punitive and brands the addict a mere sinner, making them even more discouraged and depressed.
The important thing, she added, was a supportive environment.
Meanwhile, Ridwan from Nurul Alam mosque said the power of continual prayer was a way to teach orderliness, something that the addicts lose due to drug consumption.
"Prayer teaches discipline, order. We ask them to do pilgrimages, to get more insight into life, which is impossible to pursue by just staying home," said the elementary school graduate.
From the addicts' point of view, determination is most important in getting clean and staying that way.
Hafid Kurnia, 26, has been in and out of rehabilitation centers and hospitals ever since he started using drugs in 1996.
"I was sent to an Islamic school in Pekalongan (Central Java) which also focuses on prayer and dzikir (chanting God's name). But I managed to run away," said Hafid.
He added that Nurul Alam worked for him because it was run in a familiar way. But there is still a long way to go for Hafid, as he has only been treated for five months.
The real danger waits on the outside, and falling may into the abyss of addiction may cost him and millions of other young people their lives.

Labels: drugs, religion

Posted by hera at 2:09 AM | Permalinks | Comments

Oscar Lawalata: 'Concubine' show a jaded variation on a theme

Sunday, March 21, 2004
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Remove from the equation the acrobatic martial arts performance, the singing diva and the crimson and gold ornaments from the recent couture show of designer Oscar Lawalata -- and what have you got?
The long and short of it were clothes barely distinguishable from one another. Drapery-like, baby doll, or with a empire line, the basic construction was identical, making the collection a monotonous stream of the same act.
At the end, there was the unfortunate question if Oscar's latest collection -- themed "The Last Concubine, Dying Gracefully -- lived up to the couture definition at all.
Couture presents a highly artistic but still wearable collection which is the harbinger of the next trend, something not evident in this collection. It was disappointing as Oscar, despite his relatively young age, has long been regarded as one of the country's most promising designers.
He made his breakthrough when he finished second at an international design competition in Singapore in 1999, a prodigy on the fashion scene at the age of 22.
His subdued, ethnic-influenced ready-to-wear designs earned him recognition, leading to the establishment of the first line OSCAROSCAR, OSCAROSCAR and a division for uniform design in his name.
OSCARCOUTURE made its debut three years ago, presenting a modern, daring and gleaming fashion collection with floral-shaped sequined patterns adorned over fine cloth, such as chiffon and lace.
While the first couture collection emphasized loose, draping patterns, the new collection is more sensual and follows the curves of women's bodies.
Oscar was smart enough not to jump completely into cheongsam and classic Chinese dress, but instead only used both elements in the pattern making technique.
Most were layered ballet skirts with flared and asymmetric lines, and bustiers with modifications. Instead of satin, tulle dominated the collection, giving a light, fluffy effect.
Colors ranged the gamut: subdued pink and green, bright hues (shocking pink, bright red, orange) to simple black and brown.
No motifs were involved, only paillette, embroidery and sequins -- in floral, as details.
Several items of men's wear were presented, mostly inspired by the Chinese suit and in brown and blue.
There were also a few pieces from Oscar's newest line O2L, a ready-to-wear collection aimed at "cosmopolitan, dynamic and stylish" young people.
But the show was really about the couture line, which was supposed to be glamorous and elegant, but instead showed the stagnation in the young designer's creativity.
Although it could not be called a rip off of other collections or unoriginal, it failed to inspire, and could not even be called good. It was particularly disappointing because the local fashion scene has singled him out for particular praise.
It seemed that Oscar is another example of a prodigy who veers into realm of the celebrity and gets lulled into a sense of complacency by all the hype.
With his stunning, androgynous look, long thick hair and a beautiful face, he occasionally takes to the catwalk himself and is a regular on the party scene. And perhaps the sideline stuff of celebrity overshadows his talent and profession as a designer.
There is no denying Oscar has an undeniable strength in marketing and image building. He always manages to create a show that is packaged with a flair for the extravagant.
The first couture presentation, for instance, was held at the swimming pool of the Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Central Jakarta.
There, some 50 designs, including men's wear, were displayed on a runway built around the pool, with entertainment of dancing, singing, diving and water ballet included, and capped off with a fireworks display.
His tie-dye collection was displayed at the artistic Gedung Dua8 in Kemang, South Jakarta, as well as the office of a radio station.
This most recent couture show relied on a theatrical show combining fashion, music and dance. There were wushu martial arts athletes, Titi DJ singing the Mandarin version of her Sang Dewi (The Goddess) and rhythmic dancers.
Unfortunately, even the performances came off as pretentious and unenjoyable.
Thanks to his image, big corporations were willing to be sponsors of his show, including a luxury car company, a department store and an upmarket apartment.
Fashionistas and the city's cr‚me de la cr‚me swarmed the arena for all that Oscar had to offer.
Unfortunately, the cloak of glamor and high-powered hype could not cover the fact that the creativity quotient was sorely lacking.

Labels: fashion

Posted by hera at 2:07 AM | Permalinks | Comments