Mainstreaming the 'Ananda Bersinar' Movement Towards a Golden Indonesia 2045

Indonesia is at a decisive phase in its history. Over the next two decades, the nation is projected to enjoy a demographic bonus, a condition in which the productive-age population far outnumbers the non-productive population.

The period 2035–2045 is estimated to be the peak of this momentum, coinciding with the Golden Indonesia 2045 target. This momentum is believed capable of becoming an engine of economic growth, higher national productivity, and stronger Indonesian competitiveness at the global level.

However, the demographic bonus is not an automatic guarantee of reaching developed-nation status. Its success depends heavily on the quality of the human resources who fill it. The demographic bonus will only become a strength if the majority of the productive-age population grows up healthy, educated, of good character, and highly competitive. Conversely, if the younger generation becomes trapped in drug abuse, the demographic bonus will instead turn into a demographic disaster that hampers national development.

Among the various human development challenges, the narcotics threat is one of the fastest-growing and most complex problems. Underground drug trafficking no longer relies solely on conventional patterns. Advances in digital technology have changed how drug networks operate, through social media, encrypted messaging applications, electronic financial transactions, courier services, and increasingly adaptive transnational criminal networks.

More worryingly, the main targets of drug circulation have shifted towards children and adolescents. They are at the stage of identity-seeking, have high curiosity, and are growing up in a very open digital ecosystem. This makes them the group most vulnerable to negative influences, including various forms of covert promotion and the normalisation of drug use in digital spaces.

The threat is reflected in the results of the 2025 Drug Abuse Prevalence Survey, which shows prevalence rising from 1.73 per cent in 2023 to 2.11 per cent, or around 4.1 million Indonesians. This increase is not merely a statistical figure, but an alarm that drug abuse remains a serious threat to the quality of Indonesia’s human resources.

An even more concerning fact is that the majority of users come from the productive age group of 15–49 years, precisely the group expected to be the main drivers of development towards Golden Indonesia 2045. Meanwhile, around 70 per cent of children and adolescents begin using drugs out of curiosity and a desire to experiment. These facts confirm that drug abuse stems more from the failure of prevention systems than from law enforcement problems alone.

Therefore, eradication of narcotics cannot rely solely on repressive approaches. Law enforcement remains important to break up illicit drug distribution networks, but prevention must be placed as the primary strategy. As long as demand for drugs continues to emerge from the younger generation, trafficking networks will always find new markets.

The complexity of the threat increases with the development of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), new psychoactive substances designed to mimic the effects of conventional narcotics but continually modified so that they are often not yet covered by regulation. To date, more than 1,452 types of NPS have been identified worldwide, whilst around one hundred types have been found in Indonesia. Several of them, such as Ketamine, Kratom, MDMB-5-Methyl-INACA, AB-INACA, and Isopropoxate, still require more specific legal regulation.

This phenomenon shows that the war on drugs has entered a new chapter. The state no longer faces only classic narcotics such as crystal methamphetamine, cannabis, heroin, or ecstasy, but also chemical innovations that develop far faster than the regulatory drafting process. This situation demands strengthened forensic laboratory capabilities, early warning systems, and public policy that adapts to evolving threats.

Another alarming development is the widespread abuse of vape liquids containing synthetic narcotics. Findings by the National Narcotics Agency show the presence of synthetic cannabinoids, methamphetamine, and even etomidate in a number of illegal vape products. This modus demonstrates how drugs are now packaged to resemble modern lifestyle products, making them more readily accepted by adolescents. When drugs appear in forms that seem legal and attractive, the prevention challenge becomes far greater than before.

These changes in the character of the threat show that existing prevention approaches need to be strengthened. Prevention cannot be limited to momentary counselling, ceremonial campaigns, or incidental activities. Changing children’s behaviour requires a long process through character education, family strengthening, healthy school environments, digital literacy, and sustained community engagement.

Thus, protecting children from the drug threat must become mainstreamed in Indonesia’s human development policy. This perspective must not be seen as the responsibility of the National Narcotics Agency alone, but must be integrated into education, health, child protection, youth affairs, village development, and digital transformation policies.

In the education sector, for example, anti-drug education needs to be integrated with character building, life skills, critical thinking, and digital literacy. Children need to be equipped with the ability to recognise new modes of drug abuse, including information manipulation on social media and peer pressure.

In the health sector, early detection, counselling services, community-based rehabilitation, and family education need to be expanded so that intervention can take place before abuse develops into dependence. Primary prevention is far more effective and efficient than treatment after a person becomes addicted.

Village and neighbourhood development also holds a strategic position through strengthening Desa Bersinar as a social environment that protects children from the drug threat. The participation of community figures, religious leaders, health cadres, youth organisations, and volunteers is important social capital in building community resilience against drug abuse.

In the digital era, the government also needs to strengthen collaboration with social media platforms, technology companies, and digital service providers to detect and shut down accounts promoting drugs. These efforts must be balanced with improved public digital literacy so people can recognise the new methods that exploit cyberspace as a marketing medium for narcotics.

It is in this context that the Gerakan Ananda Bersinar movement (Indonesian Children Free of Drugs) becomes highly relevant. This movement should not be understood merely as a National Narcotics Agency programme, but as a new paradigm placing child protection as the shared responsibility of all components of the nation. Prevention is no longer seen as the task of one institution, but as a national movement involving families, schools, communities, government, businesses, religious organisations, mass media, and digital platforms.

If this perspective becomes mainstream in development, every sector will make a tangible contribution. Schools will not only be places of learning, but also spaces for character formation and resilience against drugs. Villages and neighbourhoods will build safe social environments for children. Religious organisations will strengthen moral and spiritual values. Businesses will contribute through corporate social responsibility programmes, whilst mass media and digital platforms play a role in building positive narratives while countering the normalisation of drug abuse in digital spaces.

The success of this movement also depends greatly on families. Parents are the first line of defence for child protection. Open communication, proportionate supervision, and emotional closeness are proven to be strong protective factors against various risky behaviours. Therefore, improving parents’ capacity to recognise changes in children’s behaviour, understand developments in NPS, and monitor digital activities is an increasingly urgent need.

In addition, every Indonesian child needs to be equipped with the ability to refuse drugs, mental resilience, life skills, critical thinking, and digital literacy so they are not easily influenced by various forms of manipulation and increasingly covert drug promotion. Resilience against drugs is ultimately part of building the character of the nation’s generation.

Golden Indonesia 2045 is in essence measured not only by economic growth, technological progress, or the size of investment. The nation’s future will be determined greatly by the quality of the people who inhabit it. Infrastructure can be built in a matter of years, but building the character of a generation requires a long process that starts from early childhood.

Therefore, making the Gerakan Ananda Bersinar movement a mainstream development policy is a long-term investment that transcends the interests of one institution or one period of government. Protecting children from the drug threat must be seen as part of Indonesia’s human development strategy, not merely a narcotics eradication agenda.

When the state can ensure that every Indonesian child grows up healthy, intelligent, resilient, of good character, and free from drugs, the nation is in fact building the strongest foundation for an advanced, competitive, and dignified Indonesia in 2045. Protecting children from drugs is not only about saving one generation, but also about safeguarding the sustainability of national development and ensuring the demographic bonus truly becomes a blessing for Indonesia’s future.

Miftakhul Khoir, observer of anti-narcotics policy