Safeguarding the Demographic Bonus: BNN's Prevention Strategy for Children, Youth, and Communities
This presentation will be featured at Indonesia 2025, on the 17.09.2025.
Author: Zainul Muttaqien, S.H. S.IK, MAP
Abstract:
Indonesia is currently in a demographic bonus period, where the majority of the population is of productive age. This window expected to peak by 2030 oKers a historic opportunity for national advancement. However, realizing this potential depends heavily on the capacity of the younger generation to stay healthy, productive, and free from the threat of drug abuse.
Drug misuse among children and youth threatens to undermine this demographic advantage. In response, the National Narcotics Board (BNN), through the Deputy of Prevention, has placed a strategic focus on strengthening individual and family resilience as the core pathway to building broader community resilience against narcotics. A strong family unit is the first line of defense in fostering a drug-free generation.
The Deputy of Prevention’s programs prioritize early prevention through education, awareness, and the empowerment of families and youth. By equipping individuals especially children and adolescents with life skills, critical thinking, and strong values, the foundation for personal resilience is laid. This is complemented by strengthening family dynamics, parenting skills, and family-based communication to create protective environments.
In turn, these resilient individuals and families become the building blocks of drug-resistant communities. Community engagement eKorts include partnerships with schools, religious institutions, local governments, academic and civil society to reinforce shared responsibility and collective action.
As Indonesia moves toward its vision of a Golden Indonesia 2045, drug prevention is not only a health issue it is a national development strategy. The Deputy of Prevention calls for a united, cross-sectoral eKort to ensure that the demographic bonus becomes a demographic dividend. Together, by building resilience from the individual to the community level, we can create a healthier, stronger, and drug-free Indonesia.
