Indonesians Undergo Traditional Drug Rehabilitation

PURBALINGGA, INDONESIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Graffiti of recovering drug addicts is seen on the wall of Nurul Ichsan Al Islami traditional rehabilitation centre on September 16, 2017 in Purbalingga, Indonesia. Indonesian cleric Ahmad Ischsan Maulana started a traditional rehabilitation center 17 years ago in Purbalingga, Central Java, using traditional methods such as immersing his patients in boiling hot water between 10 to 30 minutes, herbal teas, prayer and counseling. Also known as “Kiai Suro Godog”, the Purbalingga center is one of the 160 across Indonesia that uses traditional methods and houses about 30 patients while Indonesia has become one of Southeast Asia’s biggest markets for narcotics over the past few years. Indonesian authorities recently expressed concerns over the street drugs entering the country and the adverse reactions caused by the abuse of a drug known as PCC. Based on local reports, at least one Indonesian schoolchild died last week in Southeast Sulawesi and over 50 suffered from seizures after consuming drinks that appeared to be spiked with prescription pills inscribed with the letters 'PCC,' which stands for 'Paracetamol Caffeine Carisoprodol'. Indonesian president Joko Widodo told police officers in July this year to shoot drug traffickers who resisted arrest, comments which has drawn comparisons to those of Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, who launched an anti-drug crackdown that saw thousands of alleged drug dealers and drug users killed. Human Rights Watch have condemned Widodo's speech although political analysts have said it will likely be well received inside Indonesia where hard-line drug policies are popular. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)