Bulungan Regent encourages youth to use social media against drugs

Bulungan Regent Syarwani has called on the region's youth to leverage social media as a platform for campaigning against drug abuse. Speaking at the opening of the Bulungan Regency Generation Plan (GenRe) Ambassador selection event, Syarwani emphasized the critical role of social media in this fight.

"I urge young people to use social media to campaign against drugs," Syarwani stated. He underscored the severe threat posed by narcotics, noting that drug abuse fueled 80% of criminal cases in Bulungan between 2019 and 2020. The problem has even affected civil servants, leading to their dismissal.

The GenRe Ambassador program is designed as a frontline defense against these issues. The local government is committed to providing tangible solutions, including peer-to-peer drug prevention education. Ambassadors from 10 sub-districts will receive training in persuasive communication tailored for young people, serving as the first line of defense in schools and youth communities.

Syarwani also linked drug abuse to risky lifestyles that often result in early marriage. He explained that the GenRe education aims to encourage young people to plan their futures maturely, thereby reducing the incidence of early marriage and its associated economic and health problems, such as stunting. He urged the GenRe Ambassadors to utilize technology positively, using their social media accounts for creative anti-drug campaigns and family planning education, spreading positive messages throughout the region.