Prabowo-Gibran Government Committed to Eradicating Drugs for Indonesia’s Bright Future
By: Anwar Salahudin *)
The Prabowo-Gibran government is strongly committed to freeing Indonesia’s future from the threat of drugs that threaten the young generation. Amid the increase in drug abuse among teenagers, the government sees this as a serious challenge that must be addressed through comprehensive measures.
This effort not only focuses on law enforcement, but also includes prevention and empowerment programs to create a strong fortress for the younger generation against the bad influence of drugs. Strategic policies have also been rolled out, from strengthening the role of the family to community supervision, in order to protect the future of the nation, with a grand vision of building a drug-free Indonesia and ready to welcome a bright future.
Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Kabareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police, Commissioner General Wahyu Widada, emphasized that drugs are a serious threat to the future of the younger generation. Recently, the Indonesian National Police managed to uncover a clandestine drug laboratory in Bali after investigating a hashish case in Yogyakarta. This operation resulted in the arrest of four perpetrators who were charged with severe penalties, including the death penalty and large fines.
In addition, the National Police collaborates with the Drug Eradication Desk through the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs to strengthen prevention and enforcement measures. This effort is expected to prevent the entry of drugs into the wider community and create a deterrent effect for perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the former Minister of Social Affairs, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, also took the initiative to protect the younger generation from the threat of drugs through Islamic boarding schools. One of them is by supporting Islamic boarding schools for drug rehabilitation. In the “Genggong Bershalawat” event at the Zainul Hasan Genggong Islamic Boarding School, Probolinggo, Khofifah highlighted the efforts of Gus Hafid from the Nurul Qadim Islamic Boarding School who pioneered a special Islamic boarding school for drug rehabilitation. This Islamic boarding school is designed to provide intensive care separate from regular students, aiming to help the younger generation recover from addiction while making them anti-drug ambassadors.
In the same event, Habib Syech bin Abdul Qadir Assegaf highlighted the importance of shalawat, silaturahmi, and social activities such as providing assistance to orphans as effective weapons to face the challenges of the times, including drug abuse.
Habib Syech also emphasized that Islamic boarding schools have a strategic role not only in the formation of morals but also academic achievement. With full support from various parties, Islamic boarding schools are expected to be at the forefront in building a strong and healthy generation, and free from drugs.
Based on data from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), it shows that around 312 thousand Indonesian teenagers are trapped in drugs, with the main causal factors such as curiosity and peer influence. In response to this, the Prabowo-Gibran government prioritizes a family and environment-based approach as the front guard. The Drug-Free Village Program (Desa Bersinar), which is supported by the government, aims to create drug-free villages by strengthening the role of families and local communities. This step is expected to create a positive and safe environment for teenagers.
In addition to drugs, attention is also paid to reducing the prevalence of smoking, which is often a gateway to the abuse of other addictive substances. Deputy for Youth Empowerment of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Prof. Dr. HM Asrorun Ni’am Sholeh, MA, highlighted the importance of preventive measures, including through the 2024 National Forum for Youth Core Cadres Against Drugs (KIPAN) program. KIPAN focuses on increasing the capacity of youth as agents of change, who can educate and influence their surroundings to stay away from drugs and cigarettes.
The impact of drugs that destroy individuals and the future of the nation is a major concern for the government. Therefore, cross-sectoral policies are strengthened to mitigate drug abuse, both in terms of prevention and handling. The government also highlights the social and economic impacts of drugs, such as loss of productivity and increased burden on society. For this reason, prevention strategies are focused on improving the structure of a healthier society.
Cross-agency collaboration is key to addressing this challenge. Coordination between the prosecutor’s office, police, and correctional institutions continues to be strengthened, as emphasized by the Coordinator of the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office for General Crimes, Evelin Nur Agusta, SH., MH, in a criminal justice coordination meeting. This effort is expected to create a deterrent effect for perpetrators and prevent vulnerable teenagers from getting caught up in drugs.
In addition to eradication, prevention through education is also a priority. The government is intensifying counseling and education from an early age to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs. Families, schools, and religious institutions are empowered to instill positive values and provide effective supervision. The government also provides rehabilitation support for drug users, ensuring comprehensive treatment from prevention to recovery.
With these strategic steps, the Prabowo-Gibran government is optimistic that it can create a healthy, drug-free, and highly competitive young generation. The success of this effort requires synergy between the government, society, and the young generation. The active participation of each individual and family is very important to supervise and accompany young people to avoid the dangers of drugs.
In the future, the government will continue to innovate in creating relevant programs for the younger generation, not only to stay away from drugs, but also to become a pioneer of change towards a positive environment. With a strong and consistent commitment, Indonesia is expected to achieve the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, where the younger generation appears as a superior and productive pillar, free from the threat of drugs.
*) Social observer from the Pancasila Madani Institute
