PBNU urges education and strict regulation to address vape misuse

The government can ensure that vape use remains within legal bounds and is not misused. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) is urging the government to focus on an education-based approach and strict supervision through regulations to prevent the misuse of vapes or electronic cigarettes as a medium for spreading narcotics. PBNU Chairman Ahmad Fahrur Rozi emphasised that if vapes are proven to be a widespread means of drug abuse that endangers the younger generation, then strict restrictions or even a ban could be part of preventive measures in line with the principle of protecting life (hifz al-nafs). “However, if their use remains within legal limits and is not misused, what is more encouraged is education, supervision, and regulation, not a total ban,” said Gus Fahrur when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday. The discourse on banning vapes has emerged following security apparatus uncovering the circulation of the narcotic etomidate. This type of etomidate narcotic is used via electronic cigarettes with vapes or pods. Gus Fahrur assessed that the policies taken by the government must be proportional. The main focus must be directed at preventing loopholes for misuse, given that vapes are currently an official and legal product sold in Indonesia. “This means not immediately imposing an absolute ban, but we encourage proportional policies based on public benefit,” he said. According to him, strict rules must focus on supervising distribution so that vapes are not used as a medium for narcotic distribution. This approach is seen as aligned with the principle of protecting life within the framework of societal benefit. Therefore, Gus Fahrur believes it does not need to be included in the Narcotics Bill and encourages specific regulations on the modus operandi of vape misuse for prohibited substances. “I think there is no need to ban vapes in the Narcotics Bill, but rather to encourage more specific and stricter regulations on the modus operandi of vape misuse for drugs,” he said. Previously, the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Suyudi Ario Seto, proposed a ban on electronic cigarettes or vapes along with their liquids to be regulated in the Draft Law (RUU) on Narcotics and Psychotropics. He said Indonesia is now facing the phenomenon of massive circulation of narcotic substances in vape form. Countries in the ASEAN region such as Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and Laos, according to him, have already taken steps to ban vape circulation. “Based on laboratory test results from the BNN centre on 341 vape liquid samples, we found very shocking facts,” said Suyudi. He explained that from testing 341 vape liquid samples, they found 11 samples containing synthetic cannabinoids (synthetic cannabis compounds), one sample containing methamphetamine or sabu, and 23 samples proven to contain etomidate (an anaesthetic drug).