BNN Denpasar Strengthens Drug-Free Villages and Anti-Drug Education Amid New Narcotics Trends

BALI – The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Denpasar is strengthening its efforts to prevent drug abuse by building a wider anti-narcotics ecosystem across villages, schools and communities.

Head of BNN Denpasar, KBP Leo Dedy De Fretes, said the narcotics landscape is undergoing significant transformation, particularly in the digital era. Drug distribution and abuse are no longer limited to conventional methods, with new substances and increasingly sophisticated distribution methods emerging.

One of the strategies being strengthened is the Desa Bersinar (Drug-Free Village) program, which aims to build communities that are more resilient to drug abuse.

BNN is also focusing its intervention on areas identified through mapping as having higher levels of drug-related vulnerability. Pemogan Village, for example, has been identified as a red-zone area. Pemecutan Kelod Village is also among the areas receiving attention through community empowerment and prevention programs.

Anti-Drug Education to Be Integrated into School Curriculum BNN Denpasar is also strengthening prevention efforts among students by encouraging the integration of anti-narcotics education into the curriculum at elementary, junior high and senior high school levels.

The program, known as IKAN (Integrasi Kurikulum Anti Narkotika), is designed to provide students with a better understanding of the dangers of narcotics while building resistance to drug abuse from an early age.

BNN is also encouraging the establishment of Sobat Bersinar, or Drug-Free Friends, as part of a broader prevention network in schools and communities. Leo said these programs are increasingly important as drug-related threats continue to evolve alongside technology and changes in social behavior.

New Psychoactive Substances Pose New Challenges According to Leo, the current narcotics situation reflects a transformation in types of substances, distribution patterns and methods of abuse.

One of the growing concerns is New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), which can produce psychoactive effects and may be difficult for the public to recognize. Drug distribution has also increasingly utilized delivery and courier services, creating additional challenges for law enforcement and community monitoring. Another emerging trend involves the use of electronic cigarettes or vapes as a medium for consuming certain substances.

Users can experience various effects, including hallucinations, tremors and seizures, depending on the substance involved.

Fentanyl: Medical Use and Risks of Illegal Distribution Another substance receiving attention is fentanyl, which has legitimate medical applications, including use as an anesthetic and pain medication under strict medical supervision.

However, the illegal possession, distribution or importation of controlled narcotic substances can carry serious legal consequences under Indonesian law. BNN continues to emphasize the importance of distinguishing between the legitimate medical use of controlled substances and their illegal abuse or distribution.

Teenagers and Productive-Age Groups Remain a Focus BNN Denpasar is also paying particular attention to people ranging from approximately 15 years old to those in their 40s. Prevention efforts are being carried out through education, community empowerment, early intervention and environmental monitoring.

For drug users, BNN also applies an assessment process to determine appropriate handling and intervention. The agency is strengthening its mapping of vulnerable areas and conducting interventions in villages considered to have higher levels of drug-related risk.

Working with Traditional Villages to Strengthen Prevention Community participation is considered an important component of the Desa Bersinar program.

BNN Denpasar is working with traditional villages (desa adat) to strengthen prevention measures and encourage the development of pararem, or traditional village regulations, that can support efforts to prevent drug abuse.

Through this approach, local communities are encouraged to become active participants in preventing narcotics abuse rather than simply becoming recipients of government programs.

Public Can Report Drug-Related Issues Through Mesadu BNN Denpasar also provides Mesadu, a public complaint service designed to receive reports and information related to narcotics issues.

Residents who need information or want to submit a report can contact the BNN Call Center at 184 or the BNN Denpasar hotline at 0813-1818-488.

The strengthening of Desa Bersinar, IKAN, Sobat Bersinar, community empowerment and cooperation with traditional villages forms part of BNN Denpasar's strategy to respond to the changing narcotics landscape.

Amid the emergence of new substances and increasingly complex distribution methods, cooperation among schools, families, villages, traditional communities and the wider public remains an important element in building a stronger drug-prevention network in Denpasar.