<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze the relevance of the restorative justice theory and the theory of the purpose of punishment in positioning rehabilitation as an alternative sanction for narcotics abusers. This research employed a normative legal research method using statutory and conceptual approaches. Legal materials were collected through library research consisting of legislation, scholarly literature, and legal doctrines, and were analyzed qualitatively using a prescriptive analytical method. The findings reveal that rehabilitation possesses both philosophical and juridical legitimacy as an alternative sanction for narcotics abusers. From the perspective of restorative justice, rehabilitation emphasizes individual recovery, social reintegration, and the restoration of disrupted social relationships. Meanwhile, from the perspective of the theory of the purpose of punishment, particularly the rehabilitative (treatment) approach, rehabilitation represents a more proportionate form of punishment by focusing on overcoming drug dependency, promoting behavioral change, and preventing recidivism. Nevertheless, its implementation continues to face several challenges, including inadequate rehabilitation facilities, weak inter-agency coordination, persistent social stigma, and inconsistencies in the implementation of existing regulations. These findings imply that strengthening rehabilitation policies requires not only regulatory harmonization but also enhanced institutional coordination, improved capacity of law enforcement officers, and broader access to rehabilitation services in order to establish a more rehabilitative, effective, and justice oriented criminal justice system.]]>
