DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Deli Serdang Regency is tightening its fight against drug abuse and trafficking by banning e-cigarettes among local government employees, increasing checks on cafés and entertainment venues, and recruiting volunteer drug prevention workers in every neighbourhood.
Regent dr H Asri Ludin Tambunan is backing the measures through regional regulations and greater community involvement. Village administrations are also stepping up public education and local monitoring to prevent drug abuse, particularly among young people.
The village administration of Kedai Durian presented the measures on Monday, 12 October 2026, at its office hall in Deli Tua District. The session featured Anwar Siregar, acting head of Deli Serdang Regency's National Unity and Politics Agency.
Volunteers as the First Line of Defence
Anwar Siregar stressed that preventing drug abuse requires cooperation between the government, law enforcement agencies and the public. Volunteers at village level can help educate residents, circulate information and raise awareness of the dangers of illicit drug trafficking.
"Drug prevention requires cooperation from all parties. We must recruit more volunteers to educate the public, explain the dangers of drugs and encourage people in their communities to work together against drug trafficking," he said.
He also called for the establishment of drug-free villages under the Desa Bersih Narkoba, or Desa Bersinar, programme. These villages are intended to provide a platform for ongoing public education and monitoring. The initiative aims not only to improve public understanding of the dangers of drugs but also to encourage residents to take an active role in prevention efforts in their own communities.
According to Anwar, volunteers can help extend public education initiatives to individual neighbourhoods. This grassroots approach allows residents to identify the risks of drug abuse at an early stage and share responsibility for protecting their families and younger generations.
DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION: Anwar Siregar, acting head of Deli Serdang Regency's National Unity and Politics Agency, calls for greater community involvement and the recruitment of volunteers to expand drug awareness and prevention efforts. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
E-Cigarette Ban and Business Premises Inspections
The Deli Serdang Regency Government is basing its prevention measures on three regulatory instruments. The first is Deli Serdang Regency Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2023, which supports efforts to prevent and combat the abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic substances and other addictive substances.
The second is the Deli Serdang Regent's Instruction No. 400.7/5885 of 2026 on the prohibition of e-cigarette or vape use. The third is the Regent's Circular Letter No. 400.7.6.4/5426 of 2026 on monitoring cafés and their surrounding areas as part of efforts to prevent and combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking, known by the Indonesian abbreviation P4GN.
Under the instruction, the Regent has directed heads of local government agencies, district heads, village heads, neighbourhood leaders and other relevant officials to monitor e-cigarette use. The ban also applies to civil servants, non-civil-service government employees and staff of local government-owned enterprises operating under the authority of the Deli Serdang Regency Government.
Employees who breach the rules may face disciplinary action in accordance with applicable regulations. Consistent monitoring is necessary to ensure that all employees understand and comply with the requirements.
Alongside regulating e-cigarette use, the Regency Government is calling on operators of cafés, restaurants, eateries, guesthouses, hotels and entertainment venues to ensure that their premises are not used for drug abuse or drug-related transactions.
Business operators are also being urged to display clear, prominent notices prohibiting drug-related activities. They should report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities so that the information can be investigated in accordance with established procedures.
The involvement of business operators is an important part of efforts to create a safer environment. Monitoring cannot be left solely to law enforcement agencies; operators must also take responsibility for activities taking place on their premises.
VOLUNTEER DRUG PREVENTION NETWORK: Kedai Durian Village Head Zainul Akhyar plans to establish a network with two volunteer workers in each neighbourhood. They will educate residents and raise awareness of the dangers of drugs. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Kedai Durian Plans Volunteers in Every Neighbourhood
Kedai Durian Village Head Zainul Akhyar said the public information session involved various community groups, including mosque youth groups, women's organisations, the Karang Taruna youth organisation and local community associations. Their involvement is intended to broaden the reach of public education and strengthen collective awareness of the dangers of drugs.
As a next step, the Kedai Durian village administration plans to establish a network of volunteer drug prevention workers, with two people recruited from each neighbourhood. They will support local awareness campaigns and help residents better understand the risks associated with drug abuse.
The initiative is also intended to improve communication between the village administration and residents. By involving people at neighbourhood level, information and prevention campaigns can be delivered in ways that are more closely connected to everyday community life.
The network will also give young people, community leaders and social groups an opportunity to contribute to a safer living environment. They can help circulate reliable information, encourage preventive behaviour and urge residents to report suspected drug abuse or illicit trafficking through official channels.
Village-level prevention efforts must be sustained rather than limited to occasional information sessions. Regular public education, coordination with the relevant authorities and monitoring of local areas must work together. This will help residents understand what steps to take when they encounter indications of drug-related activity.
Through regional regulations, inspections of business premises and plans to recruit volunteer prevention workers in every neighbourhood, the Deli Serdang Regency Government and the Kedai Durian village administration aim to strengthen efforts to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The measures are intended to create a safer living environment and protect young people in particular from the dangers of drugs. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala