Criminal Law Policies on the Abuse of Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): a Comparative Study of Indonesia and the Netherlands
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33474/yur.v9i2.25333Keywords:
Nitrous Oxide Abuse, Psychoactive Substances, Legal Vacuum, CriminalizationAbstract
The recreational misuse of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in Indonesia is a serious concern. The National Narcotics Agency has reported an increase in cases, indicating an increasingly alarming trend of abuse among adolescents and young adults that risks causing permanent neurological disorders, paralysis, and death. Its distribution is spreading further through e-commerce and social media, while the absence of specific regulations regarding non-medical use of N₂O creates a legal vacuum. This study aims to analyze criminal law policies regarding N₂O abuse in Indonesia and compare them with the Netherlands’ responsive regulatory approach in criminalizing N₂O through the 2023 Opium Act, thereby contributing a relevant policy model for Indonesia. The method used is a normative legal analysis employing legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches. The results show that Indonesia lacks specific regulations, leading to legal uncertainty, whereas the Netherlands has ensured legal certainty and public health protection. N₂O should be regulated under the Narcotics Act, accompanied by education, supervision, and rehabilitation.
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