BNN Evolves Drug Prevention Strategy Towards Science and Behavioural Change
The National Narcotics Board (BNN) is implementing a significant strategic shift in its drug prevention approach in Indonesia, evolving its strategy towards science-based methods and behavioural change.
According to reports from Thursday (3/9/2026), the BNN is no longer merely addressing narcotics issues at the final stage when abuse has already occurred. Instead, it is building interventions much earlier by engaging children, peers, teachers, schools, families, communities, and rehabilitation services.
These findings are key conclusions from the 2026 ANANDA Bersinar Comprehensive Report, an independent analytical study conducted by the Digital Clinic Team alongside Associate Prof. Dr. Devie Rahmawati, CICS, from the Vocational Program of the University of Indonesia (UI). The study utilised quantitative web scraping, source triangulation, behavioural theory analysis, risk communication, and evidence-based programme evaluation frameworks.
The research analysed structured web pages during the period of 3 extsuperscript{th} January to 19 extsuperscript{th} August 2026. “The process did not stop at news collection, but included searching and selecting sources, data extraction, number normalisation, and the triangulation of official BNN and government sources with programme portals, media, and institutional publications,” stated Devie Rahmawati.
Devie noted that one of the most important findings was not the volume of activities, but the architecture of the programme currently being built by the BNN. “The most interesting finding for us was not just how many people the BNN reached, but a fundamental aspect: how the BNN is expanding the focus of prevention, moving beyond merely communicating the dangers of drugs towards building an environment that empowers children to never start using them,” she said.
According to the Digital Clinic study, the ANANDA Bersinar programme operates across various layers of the social ecology, ranging from the individual level to peers, families, schools, communities, and systems/services. In modern prevention literature, risky behaviour does not occur in a vacuum but is influenced by an individual’s interaction with their social environment.
Therefore, the approach connecting children, peer agents, teachers, schools, families, community activities, and child-friendly services is a core strength of the ANANDA Bersinar programme. “The best prevention is not just making children afraid of drugs. The best prevention is ensuring children have the skills to refuse, supportive friends, responsive teachers, families that serve as safe havens, schools with robust systems, and services available when help is needed,” said Digital Clinic research team member Giri Lumakto.
Overall, the research identified at least seven types of intervention and activities across a 202-day observation period, with activity traces in at least six provinces. Based on this evidence, the study concluded that ANANDA Bersinar possesses promising initial mobilisation, a multi-level portfolio, and a networking infrastructure.
“The focus on children aligns with the principles of early intervention and the human development agenda towards Indonesia Emas 2045. The cross-level portfolio allows the BNN to work simultaneously on social norms, child skills, school environments, and service access. The network of 833 schools in DKI Jakarta also represents significant institutional capital that can be developed into a network of school champions,” added Giri.
“Furthermore, the involvement of 818 teachers, the development of child and adolescent services, and the use of community and sports activities show that the programme is more than just a communication campaign. While the success of drug eradication is often measured by the kilograms of narcotics seized, prevention has a different metric of success: how many children ultimately never start. The former can be documented today; the latter may only be visible years later. Yet, the latter is the greatest investment a nation can make,” urged Devie Rahmawati.
The Digital Clinic study did not evaluate the programme solely based on positive news coverage. The design of ANANDA Bersinar was compared against scientific literature and international frameworks regarding substance abuse prevention, behavioural change, risk communication, and programme evaluation.
Academic foundations included the Social Ecological Model, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Extended Parallel Process Model, Inoculation Theory, evidence-based school prevention, and frameworks such as RE-AIM, the CDC Program Evaluation Framework, and the AMEC Integrated Evaluation Framework. The study also referenced WHO-UNODC standards, which prioritise safety, protection, developmental needs, and appropriate service environments for children and adolescents.
From this perspective, one of the strengths of the current BNN approach is the development of a prevention portfolio that does not rely on a single type of intervention. “The world has long known that one-way lectures and scaring children are inadequate prevention strategies. Stronger prevention works on social skills, self-efficacy, peer norms, the quality of family relationships, school capacity, and access to help. Interestingly, several of these elements are already visible in the architecture built by the BNN,” said Mila Viendyasari, a researcher from the Digital Clinic.
According to the Digital Clinic study, the significance of the current BNN approach lies in the opportunity to integrate two sides of drug policy that are often viewed separately: enforcement against supply and prevention against the emergence of new demand. ANANDA Bersinar shows the potential for a paradigm shift, where children are not merely positioned as recipients of messages about the dangers of drugs.