BPOM Banyumas Strengthens Cross-Sector Collaboration to Prevent Misuse of Prescription Drugs
Purwokerto (ANTARA) - The Banyumas Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) in Central Java has strengthened cross-sector collaboration to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs, which are increasingly concerning and threatening the youth.
“The importance and strategic nature of this initiative stems from the hidden threat posed by the misuse of medicines such as tramadol, trihexyphenidyl, ketamine, and dextromethorphan to young generations,” said BPOM Banyumas Head Gidion during the National Action for Preventing Misuse of Prescription Drugs in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, on Monday.
He stated that misuse of these drugs not only affects physical and mental health but also lowers the quality of human capital if not addressed seriously.
He explained that prescription-only medicines, intended for medical use, are often misused for non-medical and recreational purposes, particularly among teenagers.
Gidion noted that young people are the most vulnerable group due to limited education on the dangers of misusing specific medicines. If left unaddressed, he added, the goal of achieving Indonesia’s Golden Generation 2045 could be jeopardised by deteriorating youth quality.
During the event, he also highlighted the results of a law enforcement operation by BPOM against illegal factories in West and Central Java, which uncovered over one billion tablets of prescription drugs with an economic value of approximately Rp398 billion.
“With such a large quantity, it is conceivable how many young lives could be ruined if similar illegal factories continue operating,” he said.
He explained that eight types of prescription-only medicines are supposed to be used only with a doctor’s prescription but are being misused by the public, especially youth, as substitutes for narcotics to achieve certain effects.
“These include tramadol, trihexyphenidyl or THP, commonly referred to as ‘pil sapi’, dextromethorphan, and other types,” he said.
He added that misuse of these medicines has sharply increased over the past three years due to their relative ease of access and lower cost compared to narcotics and psychotropics.
Most of these medicines are actually neurological drugs intended for medical use and must be consumed based on a doctor’s prescription. However, when misused, they can produce hyperactive or sedative effects that may incite criminal behaviour.