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Drug-Abusing Families
Abstract
The family environment of drug abusers is a social disease that threatens the social life of
children. Several such cases are found in the coastal area of Makassar City. The complexity
of drug-abusing families' problems has an impact on children's social exclusion. Problems
faced by children from drug-abusing families include stress and anxiety, isolation, and
exclusion. Therefore, it is necessary to build a critical movement to break the chain of drug
abuse. This research aims to reveal strategies to break the cycle of social exclusion for
children from drug-abusing families in Makassar City. This research uses a descriptive
qualitative approach with a critical paradigm. The data was obtained through observation,
interview, and documentation. The findings and solutions to the problems of this research are
the strategies to break the exclusive chain of the first drug abuser children, namely social and
economic family-based empowerment, building children's self-confidence, and cooperation
between researchers and the Education Office, Child Protection Office, NGOs, and the
Community.
Keywords: Drug Abusing Families, Children's Social Problems, Social Exclusion, Social
Strategy
INTRODUCTION
Drug abuse in urban areas has reached an alarming point. Based on data collected by
the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), there has been a high increase in drug abusers in
Indonesia. The number of drug abusers who accessed rehabilitation services in 2019 was
6,936 people (BNN RI, 2019), in 2020 it was 5,864 people (BNN RI, 2020), and in 2021 it
was 11,290 people (BNN RI, 2021). This is in line with the findings of the National Narcotics
Agency (BNN) in collaboration with the University of Indonesia Health Research Center (UI)
conducted a national survey on drug abuse in 34 provinces. The survey results revealed that
the prevalence rate of drug abuse in South Sulawesi Province increased, to 7th place with a
prevalence rate of 1.95 percent or 133,503 people (BNNP South Sulawesi, 2019).
South Sulawesi is one of the provinces in Indonesia with a high number of drug
abusers. The following is data on drug abusers who accessed rehabilitation services in South
Sulawesi Province in the last three (3) years. In 2019 there were 1,334 people (South
Sulawesi BNNP, 2019), In 2020 drug abusers decreased, with a total of 901 people. This is
due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, where the government provides strict rules for the
community not to carry out activities outside the home (BNNP South Sulawesi, 2020).
However, in 2021 drug abusers who accessed rehabilitation services increased again, totaling
1,082 people (BNNP South Sulawesi, 2021).
Based on data from the South Sulawesi Provincial BNN, explains that the largest drug
abuse from year to year comes from Makassar City; in 2019 it was 42% (South Sulawesi
BNNP, 2019), in 2020 it was 34% (South Sulawesi BNNP, 2020), and in 2021 it was 59%
(South Sulawesi BNNP, 2021). The high rate of drug abuse in Makassar City when compared
to several other districts in South Sulawesi Province, proves that drug abuse tends to be more
dominant in urban areas than in rural areas. This can be understood because many drug-prone
locations are found in urban areas, such as nightspots, hotels/apartments, boarding houses,
streets/gangs, and internet cafes (BNN RI, 2020).
The high rate of poverty and unemployment is directly proportional to the low level of
education, which is the main cause of the increase in drug abuse in the fishing community in
Makassar City Drugs are the most worrying thing for coastal communities. This was revealed
when researchers conducted a Methodology Participatory Assessment (MPA) on March 10,
2020, in the fishing community in Pattingalloang. Pattingalloang is one of the villages in the
Ujung Tanah Subdistrict and is directly adjacent to the Makassar Strait. The activity was
attended by 60 residents of the fishing community, where 75% of the participants revealed
that the drug problem was the most important and worrying thing for coastal communities.
Drugs harm a person's health and quality of life. The negative impact of drugs is not
only felt by the user but also negatively affects all other family members who live together.
Drug abuse, especially by the head of the family, has a major influence on the socio-
economic functioning of the family itself. As happened in Pattingalloang, drug-using family
heads were found to often commit acts of domestic violence. As husbands, they are unable to
fulfill the role of a good head of household, so many wives are forced to take on dual roles, as
wives and family breadwinners, and the greatest impact is felt by children in the form of
social exclusion.
There have been many studies on children growing up in drug-using families.
Examined the perceptions and reflections of children who grew up with drug-abusing parents
(Dyba et al., 2019; Selbekk & Sagvaag, 2016; Werner & Malterud, 2016). Looked at the
relationship between drug-using parents' behavior and child neglect (Freisthler et al., 2017;
Näsman, 2019; Perruci et al., 2021; Wolf et al., 2021). Examined the relationship between
alcohol and drug use and spousal and child abuse (Hameed, 2019). Evaluated parenting
interventions in drug-using families (Dyba et al., 2019; Wangensteen & Westby, 2021).
focused on the experiences of drug-using parents and their recovery. To determine the
relationship between drugs and crime Bennett's typology of social exclusion among young
people (Dong & Krohn, 2020; Rolando et al., 2021) looks at the impact of school punishment
experienced by parents on drug use in their offspring. Highlighted the government service
system aimed at children growing up in drug-using families. analyzed the problems and
resilience of children from drug-abusing families (Khalidass et al., 2021; Selbekk, 2019).
Research on the theme of social exclusion was introduced in the 1990s, in policy-
making and academic literature to analyze social deprivation (Levitas, 1996; Mason-
Whitehead & Mason, 2007; Silver & Miller, 2003) studied social exclusion concerning
solidarity. see social exclusion as synonymous with income poverty. Introducing the concept
of social exclusion in intellectual discourse (Backwith, 2015). Describes social relations
between groups with different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Describes the process of
social exclusion and inclusion in the Regional Budget (APBD), reviews the discourse of
social development and its consequences for street children, and discusses social exclusion
and development. Explain the process of social exclusion of farming communities. Examined
social exclusion concerning transportation (Kamruzzaman, Md., Hine, 2010; Lucas, 2019).
Describe the negative impact of social exclusion (Mason-Whitehead & Mason, 2007).
Examine social exclusion and urbanization in China (Zhang & Gu, 2021). Is a researcher who
initiated research on children's social exclusion (Gross-Manos, 2017). Examined children's
social exclusion in schools (de Leeuw et al., 2019; Gedzune, 2014). However, among these
studies, no one has specifically explored the phenomenon of social exclusion experienced by
children from drug-abusing families.
Currently, the new sociology views children as forming unique social constructs, which
serve as units of research analysis(Gross-Manos, 2017). Therefore, the topic of social
exclusion of children from drug-abusing families is important to research. Because children
who grow up in drug-abusing families are the unit of analysis in sociology, they are also
human beings who are prone to being treated unfairly. They become objects that are excluded
from their social environment. Not only are they often denied their basic rights and neglected,
but they are also often violated, treated harshly, and become victims of violence (Ahriani,
2020) Excluded children are a social problem that must be solved immediately.
This condition is experienced by many children from drug-abusing families in
Makassar City. The lives of children from drug-abusing families in Makassar City are still in
a condition that are unable to participate in the social environment and build meaningful
social relationships. Children are positioned only as objects; this position results in small
opportunities for self-actualization and development. So, children are excluded both in the
family environment, the neighborhood, and the formal school environment. For the social
exclusion of children from drug-abusing families not to occur continuously in Makassar City,
sustainable strategic measures are needed. For this reason, critical research is needed to break
the chain of social exclusion of children from drug-abusing families in Makassar City.
RESEARCH METHODS
This research focused on efforts to reveal the problems faced by children from drug-
abusing families and strategies to break the chain of social exclusion. This research was
conducted in the coastal strait of Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The
consideration of choosing this location is because the Makassar Strait coast is known as an
area with a high level of drug trafficking, so it is included in the red zone (BNNP South
Sulawesi, 2021). The study area consists of five sub-districts, namely Ujung Tanah, Bontoala,
Makassar, Tallo, and Panakukang.
This research used a qualitative approach (Creswell, 2007; Gill, 2020; Ningi, 2022).
Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews. The participants interviewed
were purposively selected and consisted of children from drug-abusing families, parents,
halfway house staff, members of the Community Development Unit, members of the South
Sulawesi National Narcotics Agency, religious leaders, government staff, and peers.
Multi-actor Synergy
Solving social problems requires a multi-actor strategy. As with efforts to break the
cycle of social exclusion of children from drug abuse families, multi-actor synergy is carried
out, namely the City government, the Office of Women's Empowerment and Child
Protection, the Education Office, NGOs, and the Community. The role of the Makassar City
Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Office is optimistic that the social exclusion of
children can be avoided through collaboration and synergy from all parties, and involving
social welfare workers, counselors, and other related experts to provide the necessary
support. With synergy and collaboration, children affected by drugs get their rights including
the rights to education, health, participation, play, and child identity. The Women's
Empowerment and Child Protection Office educates the community on the importance of
fulfilling children's rights, changing the mindset that school is more important than work
from an early age, and giving economic empowerment to their families. In addition, it
proposed a forum for the formation of children's ideas that can serve as pioneering agents in
realizing change in the community.
Comprehensive and collaborative efforts from various parties are essential to break the
cycle of social exclusion of children and return them to a better life order. The Ministry of
Women's Empowerment and Child Protection plays an important role in this effort. In
addition, the social services office assists in providing social assistance and support for
children affected by drugs. The education office helps ensure that children have access to
proper education and continues to encourage their development. The National Narcotics
Agency of South Sulawesi Province helps in providing counseling and anti-drug campaigns
to the community including to families of drug-affected children and providing rehabilitation
programs. Baznas and NGOs help provide financial and non-financial support for children
and their families in need.
The role of the community is also very important in this effort. Communities help in
providing moral and social support to children and their families, including providing
information and reports when they discover drug addiction. Family-based empowerment,
supported by close collaboration between various parties, can break the cycle of social
exclusion of children from drug-abusing families and help them return to a more humane and
competitive life.
The forms of empowerment carried out by involving multi-actors that have been
implemented in the research are:
a. Family education is about compulsory education for all Indonesian children without
exception. This education is carried out persuasively to families who have children
dropping out of school so that children who are excluded can return to school.
b. Registering dropout children from drug-using families who are submitted to the Makassar
City Education Office and the Office of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, so
that children who drop out of school can return to school and allocate social assistance to
those who have not received assistance from related agencies.
c. Training on processed fish products in Pattingalloang.
The outcome of this family-based empowerment is to strengthen families to become
more resilient to stress and reduce the risk of future drug addiction. By improving overall
family welfare, family-based empowerment can help break the cycle of social exclusion of
children from drug-abusing families.
As research is based on a critical paradigm, it is necessary to create conditions for
social recovery as a result of emancipatory action. The actions produced by researchers for
children of drug abusers who are socially excluded include:
a. Children who drop out of school return to school and have competitiveness with other
children.
b. Breaking the regeneration of drug abuse.
c. Breaking the social stigma on children from drug-abusing families.
CONCLUSION
The first strategy to break the exclusive chain of children from drug-abusing families is
social and economic family-based empowerment including family education, fish processing
training, Islamic parenting, and building children's confidence as a result of family-based
empowerment, strengthening families to be more resilient to pressure and reducing the risk of
drug addiction in the future The next strategy is cooperation involving multi-parties including
the Education Office, the Office of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Non-
Governmental Organizations and the Community. This strategy is carried out by means of
collaboration and synergy from all parties and involves social welfare personnel, counselors,
and other related experts to provide the necessary support.
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