JAMBI. National Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Comr. Gen. Anang Iskandar said the agency would take a more holistic approach to the way it treats drug addicts rather than just criminalizing them.

“Drug users and addicts deserve rehabilitation more than prison,” he said while attending an event in Jambi.

However, he added, in order to do so, all related parties should assist BNN in providing decent rehabilitation facilities, especially in regions that have a high number of drug addicts.

Commenting on this, Jambi Mayor Sy Fasha said his administration had prepared to give BNN all the assistance it needed. He said funds from the local budget had been earmarked to build rehabilitation centers in the province.

According to the National Police, the number of drug cases in 2013 was 32,470, a rise of 22.5 percent from 2012’s figure of 26,561 cases. (Jon Afrizal)

Editor: Asnil Amri