‘Junkie class’ designed to keep kids off drugs

School children in Amsterdam are accustomed to seeing drug addicts in the streets. Some are now
hearing what it’s like to be one. Amsterdam police have been organizing meetings between drug addicts and
classes of 11 to 12-year olds since 1986.
“The goal is to make children aware of the risks of addiction,” says policewoman Ingrid Postma, who
coordinates the scheme using addicts arrested for petty crime. For Postma, the addict’s willingness to talk is
proof that the open-minded attitude taken by Dutch police is paying off. “Behind every detainee, we see a
human being who ended up in the wrong place,” she said.
The possession of drugs is illegal in the Netherlands but the authorities do not prosecute people caught
with small amounts. Other Dutch towns have copied Amsterdam’s experiment with school children.

Teachers have shown great interests, submitting application for a total of 4,500 pupils a year to the
scheme in the Amsterdam area alone. The police can currently handle only two-thirds of these. This time, 14
pupils and their teacher from a city center school have come to Amsterdam police headquarters. They are
waiting in a corridor lined with empty cells for 23-year-old Ahmed, a heroin addict.
“Feel free to ask anything you like,’” says policeman Olivier Dutilh before bringing in Ahmed.
“But if he does not want to answer a question, you must respect that.”
Facing the group, Ahmed says he was caught four days earlier trying to steal a car radio.
“You would get more money by robbing a bank,” one of the children says. “I am not such a
professional,” he answer. He smiles when another pupil asks if he deals in drugs as well. “If I did that, I’d be a
big boss.”
This afternoon Ahmed, who receives the heroine substitute methadone from the police, hardly gives the
impression of being someone who has lost control of his life.

When the conversation turns to Ahmed’s parents, policeman Dutilh interrupts. He points out that
compared with other addicts Ahmed is lucky to still be on speaking terms with his family. “Parents of course
are crazy about their children. But there does come a point when they will gently kick you out,” he says.
Children tend to be curious about an addict’s relationship with family and friends, says teacher Jan Merlijn.
This is the fourth time he has brought a class along. He hopes the children will at least keep the story of
Ahmed in the back of their minds. “All you can do is point out the dangers to them,” he says.
 ‘Junkie class’ designed to keep kids off drugs

1. Carilah dari bacaan ini satu kata saja bahasa Inggris yang artinya orang tahanan.

Detainee.

2. Dalam aplikasi, keseluruhannya ada 4.500 siswa. Tetapi mengapa ia ditangkap polisi?

Dia tertangkap empat hari sebelumnya mencoba mencuri radio mobil.

3. Untuk keempat kalinya pak guru ngapain?

Dia telah membawa kelas bersama ke markas polisi.

4. Pertanyaan apa yang diajukan kepada Ahmed ketika ia menjawab, “Aku bisa menjadi bos besar”?

Ketika murid lain bertanya apakah ia berurusan dalam narkoba juga.

5. Pilih satu saja yang benar:

A). Ahmed sudah tidak berkomunikasi lagi dengan orangtuanya.
B). Kota-kota lain di Belanda tidak meniru cara Amsterdam.
C). Ada 14 murid yang ditahan di markas polisi.
D). Dalam setahun polisi hanya sanggup menerima 3.000 murid.
E). Para pecandu obat bius yang ditahan di kantor polisi itu adalah pelaku tindak kejahatan besar.
6. Kalau sekarang hari Sabtu, Ahmed ditangkap hari apa?

Selasa.

7. Methadone untuk apa?

Sebagai pengganti heroin. Untuk merawat kecanduan dari pengguna golongan opioid, seperti
heroin, morfin dan kodein.

8. Perempuan polisi itu bernama Ingrid Postma. Siapa yang biasa melihat pecandu obat-obatan di jalanan?

Para anak sekolahan di Amsterdam.

9. Usia mereka 11 – 12 tahun. Lantas mengapa ia tidak merampok?

Karena Ahmed bukan seorang yang professional dalam hal tersebut.

10. Orang yang ketahuan membawa obat-obatan dalam jumlah kecil pasti ditangkap. Tapi ia tidak akan
diapakan?

Kepemilikan obat adalah ilegal di Belanda. Tetapi pihak berwenang tidak mengadili orang tertangkap
dengan jumlah kecil.