The Lorong as a Risk Environment: Drug Use and Gangs among Young Men in the Slums of Makassar, Indonesia

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between the social environment and drug use among young men in slum areas (lorong) in Makassar, Indonesia. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 male drug injectors who attended a drop-in center for drug users. The interviews revealed the crucial role of Rewa (the local concept of masculinity) in mediating risky practices, as youths strive to be perceived as Rewa. The dynamics of gang participation in the lorong result in high levels of drug use and are influential in the ways young men's drug consumption evolves. Furthermore, risky drug use that potentially leads to HIV infection is not an isolated behavior and must be understood in the social context of the lorong. We conclude that to be more effective, existing harm-reduction programs in Makassar that focus on individualistic behavioral change need to be complemented with community-based programs that take into account the social and structural context of risk taking practices among young people in the lorong.