Drug addiction is often perceived as a moral failure, while in reality, it is a complex neurological disorder that affects the brain’s nervous system. Addictive substances gradually alter how the brain’s reward system works, the part responsible for pleasure, motivation, and self-control. As a result, the brain continues to crave the substance, driving compulsive and repeated consumption. This invisible struggle makes the recovery process from addiction exceptionally challenging.
Recognizing this, a group of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) initiated a research project through the Student Creativity Program for Intellectual Creation (PKM-KC).
Under the supervision of Dr. Ridwan Wicaksono, the team, comprising Melvino Rizky Putra Wahyudi, Dhimas Setya Adi Nugraha, Muhammad Basel Fawaz Sigit, Reza Hanif Firmansyah, and Putri Eka Desintha, aims to view rehabilitation not merely as a battle of willpower but as an engineering challenge that can be scientifically addressed.
Melvino Rizky Putra Wahyudi explained that their innovation, called “NeoSemar: Integrated Drug Addiction Recovery System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Based on Electroencephalography (EEG) Monitoring,” is a sophisticated therapy system designed to communicate directly with the brain and help restore its function without the need for surgical procedures.
“NeoSemar is designed to interact directly with the brain and aid in its recovery non-invasively,” said Wahyudi in a statement to the press on Wednesday (Oct. 22).
He further highlighted the project’s relevance, noting the rising number of drug users in Indonesia. Citing data from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in 2023, he mentioned that more than three million Indonesians are affected by narcotics abuse.
“NeoSemar offers a technology-based solution by integrating two advanced medical technologies (TMS and EEG) into one unified system,” he added.
Dhimas Setya Adi Nugraha elaborated on the device’s mechanism, which utilizes EEG to scan brain activity and identify areas of dysfunction. Based on this mapping, TMS delivers targeted electromagnetic waves to stimulate and normalize disrupted neural circuits.
“The entire therapy process can be monitored remotely by medical professionals through an Internet of Things (IoT)-based system, providing more personalized and efficient treatment,” he explained.
According to Nugraha, the NeoSemar project has successfully obtained ethical clearance from the Ethics Committee of the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM). This approval validates the therapy system’s methodology and safety while paving the way for further testing.
“This recognition marks a significant milestone for our team,” he emphasized.
With funding support from the Directorate General of Higher Education, Science, and Technology through the Directorate General of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa), the team hopes that NeoSemar will not only complement existing rehabilitation methods but also serve as a groundbreaking advancement in addiction therapy in Indonesia.
Author: Ika Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: Freepik and NeoSemar Team