Indonesian Sports and Youth Minister Roy Suryo signed on Saturday an memorandum of understanding with Chairman Anang Iskandar of the national narcotics agency BNN on the establishment of a special task force to prevent widespread drug abuse among youths across the country.

The task force is joined by public organizations, students and celebrities.

"This is the manifestation of a synergy between government and the BNN in addressing drug abuse problem among the youths," the minister said after signing the document.

According to the minister, drug abuse is a national problem that needs to be jointly resolved by government and stakeholders in society, including the youths themselves.

"The mechanism to quell the widespread drug abuse can be conducted by popularizing the danger of drug abuse, prevention, eradication, medication and recovery," he said, quoted by the Antara news agency.

According to data released by drug abuse watchdog Kelima Foundation, Indonesia recorded 5 million drug abusers in 2012.