Yogyakarta Special Region as a city of education, tourism, and culture, has various potential and achievements that are recognized nationally and internationally. Unfortunately, there are still many issues that need to get serious attention from all stakeholders; one of them is the problem of drug abuse.
Data of year 2009 showed that Yogyakarta ranked second after Jakarta and above North Sumatra, West Java and East Kalimantan, which ranked 3rd, 4th, and 5th. In Yogyakarta, Sleman occupied the first position, followed by Bantul, Yogyakarta, Kulon Progo and Gunung Kidul. Ironically, most of drug cases in Sleman was found in Depok sub-district, in which many major universities are located, such as UGM, UNY, UIN, UPN, UKDW, and Sanata Dharma.
Seeing the condition, Drug Abuse Prevention Unit (UP2N) under the Directorate of Student Affairs UGM held the ‘Training of Drug Abuse Prevention and Control at UGM Campus’ on Saturday (27/11). The event followed by 94 participants was held in the auditorium of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology UGM.
Syarif Hidayatullah, M.Ag., MA, Chairman of the Committee, said the training aims to empower and optimize UGM academic community in preventing drug abuse on campus. In addition, another goal is to further strengthen the network for the prevention of drug abuse at UGM.
Meanwhile, Director of Student Affairs UGM, Drs. Haryanto, M.Sc., said that the training conducted by UP2N is a form and sign of revival as a result of institutional reorganization of the only unit that specifically deals with prevention of drug abuse at UGM. "The existence of this unit is always touched upon in the university accreditation form of institutional assessment , so its existence needs to be strengthened systemically, not only at the university level, but also on a national scale," he said.