Substance Abuse in Indonesian Prisons: A Sociological Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors Through Structuration Theory and the Autonomous-Related Self

Abstract

Substance abuse constitutes a pressing public health and social challenge that demands approaches extending beyond biomedical frameworks. This study examines risk and protective factors of substance abuse among incarcerated men in Indonesia through Strong Structuration Theory (SST) and the Autonomous-Related Self (ARS), capturing the interplay between social structure, agency, and cultural self-conceptions. A qualitative thematic content analysis of 196 Community Research Assessment Reports (LITMAS) compiled by correctional officers in East Java was undertaken, combining descriptive statistics with systematic manual coding to identify structural risks, behavioural patterns, and protective resources. Findings indicate that social vulnerability, peer influence, and prior relapse constitute dominant risks, while family support, social connectedness, and vocational skills emerge as key protective factors. These dynamics highlight how agency is constrained yet enabled by social structures and cultural expectations of autonomy and relatedness. The study advances sociologically informed addiction research in collectivist contexts, with implications for theory and policy.