Anti-Drug Poetry Competition as an Educational Tool for Youth
The Provincial Government of North Sumatra (Pemprov) has praised the anti-drug poetry competition organized by the National Drug Agency of North Sumatra (BNN) on the occasion of International Anti-Drug Day (HANI) 2026.
The event was considered an effective educational tool to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of drug use through literary works.
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This appreciation was expressed by Mulyono, Head of the Provincial Agency for National Unity and Politics of North Sumatra (Kesbangpol), during the event in the theater hall of the Medan Tourism Polytechnic University, Jalan Rumah Sakit Haji No. 12, Medan.
“On behalf of the Provincial Government of North Sumatra, we welcome this poetry competition as part of our efforts to raise public awareness of the dangers of drug use,” stated Mulyono.
According to him, poetry is a medium that can express feelings and touch the hearts of the audience. Through the works presented by the finalists, the message about the dangers of drugs can be powerfully conveyed and public awareness raised.
“We saw that the eight finalists who performed all managed to move us. Our hopes and wishes are the same: a North Sumatra without drugs,” he said.
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Mulyono explained that drug prevention in North Sumatra is carried out by the Team for the Prevention and Control of Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking (P4GN). The program comprises three main aspects: prevention through education to prevent the community from falling into drug use, eradicating drug networks and dealers in cooperation with the National Drug Agency (BNN) and the police, and rehabilitation for drug users.
He added that the National Agency for Unity and Politics (Kesbangpol), as part of the integrated team, will continue to support various strategic steps to achieve a clean North Sumatra free from drug abuse.
Meanwhile, the head of the BNN of North Sumatra, Brigadier General Tatar Nugroho, stated that the HANI commemoration is not merely a ceremony, but an impetus to strengthen cooperation among all segments of the population in creating a safe, healthy, and drug-free environment.
“Drugs remain a serious threat that can harm the future of the country, regardless of age, social status, or background. Therefore, prevention efforts cannot be achieved through legal channels alone; they must also be realized through art, culture, and literacy,” he said.
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According to Tatar, literature, particularly poetry, has great power in raising public awareness. “Poetry is not just a series of beautiful words, but a medium capable of conveying moral messages and inspiring people to say no to drugs, while simultaneously fostering a spirit of self-protection, protecting their families and their surroundings from the dangers thereof,” he said.
He also praised the themes chosen by the participants, as these reflected the younger generation’s engagement with the country’s societal issues. He also called upon all layers of society—from families, schools, universities, youth organizations, art communities, and the media to stakeholders—to continue strengthening cooperation in the prevention of drug use.
The competition for writing and reciting poems against drugs was part of a series of events marking HANI 2026, organized by the National Drug Control Agency of the Province of North Sumatra (BNN).
This competition encouraged the public, particularly the younger generation, to promote a healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyle through literary works.
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The first prize went to Nanda Tri Wardana Pasaribu, a student at Medan State University (Unimed), with the poem ‘Measuring a House with a Silver Spoon’.
The second prize was won by Rahman Attiyah Pohan, a student at the Islamic State University of North Sumatra (UIN SU), with the poem ‘A House in Disaster’.
Third place went to Khairul Anam, a lecturer at Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra (UMSU), with a poem titled ‘A Message from a Father to His Son’. ***rel
