Drug Policy in Indonesia

Abstract

There are estimated to be more than 100,000 people who inject drugs in Indonesia, a third of whom are living with HIV. Although Indonesia has introduced and supported health-focused harm reduction services for people who inject drugs, the national policy response to drugs remains predominantly focused on the use of law enforcement measures. The new Narcotics Law #35/2009 introduces mechanisms for diverting people who use drugs away from prison and towards treatment. However significant challenges remain in developing policies and practices that best support people who use drugs, particularly due to the compulsory reporting requirements and difficulties with ensuring the availability of evidence-based drug dependence treatment and harm reduction services.

This briefing paper reviews current policies and practices that have been implemented in response to the use of controlled drugs in Indonesia, and highlights some of the key challenges and issues that remain. The paper also offers policy recommendations for addressing those challenges.

Keywords: drug policy, prisons, drug treatment