EduAsiaNews, Jakarta — The Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Auditorium at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta (UPNVJ) was livelier than usual on Thursday, December 11, 2025. That afternoon, the campus—known for its bela negara (national defense) identity—became a meeting ground for academics, law enforcement, and local government officials around a shared concern: preventing the dangers of drug abuse.
UPNVJ partnered with the Pondok Labu Sub-district Office and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of South Jakarta to hold an anti-drug awareness program for the university’s academic community. The session went beyond presenting statistics and threats; it also encouraged interactive discussions on early prevention strategies within the campus environment.
Ahmad Sulaiman, a Junior Expert Narcotics Counselor from BNN South Jakarta, outlined the impacts of drugs from multiple perspectives—health, legal consequences, and the social damage they cause. According to him, universities are among the most strategic spaces for building the resilience of young people against narcotics. “Prevention must begin with comprehensive understanding and the courage to remind one another,” he said.
Also in attendance was the Head of Pondok Labu Sub-district, Nachnoer Vernier, who underscored the importance of collaboration between higher education institutions and local government. On that occasion, he appointed four UPNVJ education staff members as Anti-Drug Ambassadors: Disa Prihantini, Nabila Permata Sari, Muhammad Irfan, and Muhammad Angga. They are expected to serve as drivers of a healthy, drug-free lifestyle campaign on campus.
Chair of the UPNVJ Student Affairs Working Team, Drs. Sarlan, said the initiative aligns with UPNVJ’s character as a bela negara campus. “The narcotics threat is not merely an individual problem; it is also a threat to national resilience. Therefore, the role of students and the entire academic community is crucial,” Sarlan stated.
He added that through activities like this, UPNVJ seeks to reaffirm its commitment as an educational institution that not only produces academically excellent graduates but also remains responsive to social issues. “Drug prevention is part of the campus’s tangible contribution to society,” he concluded. (*)
