The Impact Of Drug Abuse On Divorce In Sungai Bahar District, Muaro Jambi Regency

Abstract

This thesis, titled The Impact of Narcotics Abuse on Divorce in Sungai Bahar District, Muaro Jambi Regency, aims to analyze the influence of drug abuse on domestic harmony, identify obstacles in preventing substance abuse within households, and explore strategies to address divorce cases triggered by addiction. Rooted in the framework of Indonesian positive law—specifically Law No. 1 of 1974 revised by Law No. 16 of 2019 concerning Marriage—and Islamic jurisprudence including the Compilation of Islamic Law and Maqashid al-Shariah, the research adopts a normative legal approach supported by empirical data. Data were collected through literature study and field research, including documentation from the Religious Court of Sengeti. The findings reveal that narcotics abuse is the leading cause of divorce applications filed by wives in the region. Between 2023 and 2025, 52 out of 107 divorce cases were directly attributed to drug addiction, surpassing domestic violence, infidelity, and family interference. Substance abuse destroys the essence of marriage, which is intended to build a peaceful, loving, and eternal family (sakinah, mawaddah, warahmah). It triggers severe economic instability, aggressive behavior, loss of trust, psychological distress, and neglect of spousal and parental obligations. The study also highlights significant barriers to prevention, such as lack of family education, weak religious understanding, and negative environmental influences. Efforts to resolve these issues require a combination of legal enforcement, religious counseling, rehabilitation programs, and community empowerment. This research confirms that narcotics abuse violates the objectives of Shariah—specifically the protection of life, intellect, lineage, and property—and serves as a primary factor leading to the breakdown of marital bonds in Muaro Jambi.