03 October 2025
Threesna Sharfina
Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan – The circulation and misuse of drugs remain a serious threat to teenagers, especially in coastal areas that are vulnerable to environmental influences. Aware of this concern, a team of students from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) initiated an educational innovation called the Hangtara Puppet Experimental Module. This module is designed to strengthen adolescents’ self-efficacy—their confidence in making healthy decisions and courage to resist negative peer pressure.
Hangtara Puppet was developed under the Student Creativity Program (Program Kreativitas Mahasiswa/PKM) by adapting the Puppet Nusantara Therapy, an approach that combines cognitive restructuring and miniature psychodrama. In its implementation, the puppet of the cultural hero Hang Tuah serves as a symbolic medium to deliver messages and guide participants in expressing inner conflicts and finding constructive solutions. The activities were conducted at SMP Negeri 02 Tanjung Tiram, Batu Bara Regency, involving around 15 students aged 13–15 years, selected based on self-efficacy screening results. Over four sessions, participants engaged in a series of structured activities, beginning with a pre-test, introduction to the story of Hang Tuah, and three psychodrama sessions with themes such as overcoming difficulties, saying no to drugs, and envisioning one’s future self. Each session consisted of three main stages: warm-up, action, and sharing. Through these stages, students were not merely passive listeners but actively participated in role-playing, reflection, and group discussions to explore possible solutions.
The Hang Tuah puppet plays the role of a companion symbolizing wisdom, courage, and integrity. The character helps students build self-confidence, learn to resist peer pressure, and understand that making healthy decisions is a true act of bravery. Using psychodrama techniques such as role reversal, mirror, and future projection, participants are encouraged to revisit personal experiences, visualize their aspirations, and discover adaptive strategies for facing life’s challenges.
The development team hopes that the Hangtara Puppet Experimental Module will serve not only as a tool for preventing drug abuse but also as a means of instilling character values rooted in local culture. By drawing inspiration from the story of Hang Tuah, it is expected that young people will grow into individuals who are more critical, resilient, and independent in confronting temptations and social pressures.
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