Drug abuse has shown no signs of receding: President Jokowi

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

That is why we want to protect ourselves, families, schoolmates, kampongs, and cities against drugs

 

Surakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stated that drug abuse in Indonesia has shown no downward trend, despite the execution of 18 drug kingpins since he took office nearly two and a half years ago.

"In the past two years, 18 drug lords have been executed, but we are still unable to lower the instances of drug abuse," the president said during a function held at the Manahan Sports Stadium here on Friday (April 21) to familiarize the public with the danger of drugs, pornography and violence against children.

In this respect, he asked the younger generations to refrain from drug abuse.

He noted that 40 to 50 people die every day due to drug abuse.

"That is why we want to protect ourselves, families, schoolmates, kampongs, and cities against drugs," he said.

As many as 1,800 students from junior high schools, senior high schools and vocational schools from throughout Surakarta, Central Java, attended the function.

"We must act together. It is unlikely for the government to work alone. We must have the guts to say no to drugs," he said.

He said he wanted more and more members of the younger generation to become anti-drug envoys so that their environment can be rendered free of drug abuse. Ant/MK