New Psychoactive Substances: Finding and Legal Challenges in Indonesia
This presentation was featured at Indonesia 2025, on the 18.09.2025.
Authors:
Supiyanto1 and Tanti2
1 Chief of The Center of Narcotics Laboratory, National Narcotics Board of The Republic of Indonesia
2 Research Team Leader, Center of Narcotics Laboratory, National Narcotics Board of The Republic of Indonesia
Abstract:
The development of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) is a global threat as shown by the significant increase in the number of NPS reported by countries including Indonesia to the UNODC. Drugs trend in Indonesia has shifted from conventional drugs to NPS that have the same or more dangerous effects than drugs that pose a threat to public health.
Based on data from The Center of Narcotics Laboratory of BNN, in 2023-2024 the total number of identified NPS samples are shown a significant increase compared to previous years and Synthetic Cannabinoids groups has the most NPS identified compared to other groups. This means that Synthetic Cannabinoids are the most trafficked and abused NPS in Indonesia. There are 99 NPS identified in Indonesia with 5 NPS (Ketamine, Mitragyna Speciosa or Kratom, MDMB-5-methyl-INACA, Etomidate, AB-INACA) not yet regulated in Indonesia.
The rapid evolution of NPS, which frequently appear before existing regulations, the collaboration of all drug testing laboratories in Indonesia as data collectors, and the coordination of academics, researchers, and the governments that make decisions regarding regulations present serious obstacles to Indonesia's NPS regulation.
To provide early warning of the emergence of NPS to the public, BNN establishing the Early Warning System (EWS) on NPS website platform (https://ews.bnn.go.id/). EWS was formed as a response to the emergence of NPS and the importance of sharing information about NPS and trends in new type of drugs at national level.
