PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR
DRUG ABUSERS IN THAILAND

Duangta Graipaspong*
I. INTRODUCTION
In the decades of civilization, economic growth has been one of the most important issues that the
governments have declared in their policies. Materialism has been the social value that determined thepeople’s lifestyle. Illegal drugs trading has become a tremendously profitable business. The weakest groupsof victims have been entrapped by the intriguing marketing strategies. The reluctance of law enforcement,
the loose ties of the families, the challenging value to abuse illegal drugs, as well as the biological andpsychological effects of the drugs to the brains have aggravated the detrimental situations. The increase ofillegal drugs crimes and their associates is inevitable. To achieve such crime prevention purposes, not only
the effective and systematic jurisdiction process should be administered, but also acute public healthstrategies should be implemented.
II. THE CURRENT SITUATION
A. Drug Trends and Characteristics of Drugs Abusers
1. Statistics of Narcotic Drugs Seized
During this last decade, narcotic drugs, especially the psycho-stimulant amphetamine, seized in Thailand
has been increasing at breakneck speed in terms of the numbers of arrested persons, the criminal cases andthe quantities of drugs seized. The statistics reported by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board are shownin figure 1 and figure 2.
500000450000no. ofarrested
persons

400000350000300000250000200000no. ofcriminal
cases

150000100000
50000
0
1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Figure 1. Number of Arrested Persons and Numbers of Criminal Cases* Psychiatrist,
Assistant Director of Galya Rajanagarindra Institute,
Department of Mental Health,Thailand128

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From figure 1, the number of arrested persons and the criminal cases in 2001 were less than in 2000, butwhen considering the amount of amphetamine seized, as shown in figure 2, it still indirectly shows theincrease in the spread of amphetamines. Because there are many factors influencing the number of criminalcases reported and sometimes it is difficult to identify who are the criminals or the scapegoats, the statistics
in figure 1 and figure 2 may not show the whole story.

25000000

grams ofcannabisseized20000000
15000000

grams ofamphetamine
seized10000000

grams ofheroine seized

5000000
0
1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Figure 2. Amount (in Grams) of Heroine, Amphetamine and Cannabis Seized
2. The Increase of Amphetamine Abusers
An epidemiological study of drug abuse has found that the trend of abusers that have accessed therapy
has changed. The number of amphetamine abusers in therapeutic settings, which were reported by the Officeof Narcotics Control Board, overtook the number of heroin abusers in the years 1999-2001 as shown infigure 3.
60000
heroine50000
amphetamine

40000
opioid30000
volatiles

20000
cannabis

10000
others

0
1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Figure 3. Number of Drug Abusers who have Accessed Therapy
Consideration to the number of arrested persons, most of whom are abusers or abusers and minor dealers(the data as shown in figure 1), and the accessibility of therapy (the data of total cases in figure 3), the figure
shows that only twenty percent of the cases who need therapy can access treatment as shown in figure 4.
Three-quarters of cases that received treatment used outpatient clinics, and the rest were residential patients.

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RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 64
300000no. of arrested
persons
convicted ofillegal drug
offenses

250000200000150000
total no. ofdrug abusers
given accessto thetreatment
centres

100000

50000

0
1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Figure 4. The Number of Convicted Drug Offenders and the Number who Received Drug Treatment
The majority of the cases were in the criminal justice process thus the imprisonment and detention rate in
the prisons and juvenile detention centres were high due to narcotic law offences as shown in figure 5. The
source of the data was derived from the Annual Report of Department of Correction and Juvenile Detention
Centre.
80000

no. of offenders
convicted of
narcotic law
offences injuvenile detention
centres
no. of offenders
convicted of
narcotic law
offences in prisons

70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Figure 5. The Increase in Imprisonment and Detention Rates due to Convictions for Narcotic Law Offences
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board reported the findings of the national survey study, which was
accomplished by the Drugs Academy and Information Consultant Committee. The committee wascomprised of academics from Chiangmai University, Khonkaen University, Songklanagarind University,
Assumption University, the Social Research Institute and Institute of Health Research of Chulalongkorn
University. The study was carried out among the population of 12-64 year olds, during June 2000- December
2001. It was revealed that 16.4% of the total population have used narcotic drugs, while 4.3% have used one
year and 2.2% have used one month prior to the study period respectively. About one-half of the target
population was amphetamine abusers. The studies of drug abuse patterns among the youths summarized by
the Bureau of Drugs Prevention and Correction Development, Office of Narcotics Control Board reported

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that the average age of those first exposed to drugs was 15-19 years old. Amphetamines have been the mostpopular drugs since 1997. About two-third of the abusing youngsters accepted that they had gone todiscotheques and indulged with their peers.
B. National Policies in Combating Illegal Drugs
1. The Government Strategies
The spread of drugs is a crucial national problem that the present government is strongly concerned with.
Collaboration among every part of society is essential; hence the government has determined the strategy ofpeople power to conquer illegal drugs’ and the ‘separation of addicts from traders and producers’. The
associated organizations under the Ministry of Parliament Secretaries, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of
Public Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Military, Ministry of Labour and National Police Bureau haveto establish action plans that cover three domains: (1) demand control, (2) potential demand prevention and(3) eradicate supply. The nine guidelines for every collective organization in society to follow were declaredon May 31st, 2001. The nine guidelines declared by the cabinet are as follows: (1) drug suppression (2)administration and coordination (3) encouraging people power and prevention (4) therapy, treatment andrehabilitation (5) drugs and chemical precursors control (6) overhauling laws and the justice process (7)investigative reports (8) international cooperation (9) research development monitoring and evaluation. In
addition, on February 1st, 2003 the government launched a three-month nationwide drug suppression
campaign, the ‘anti-drug crusade’. There was a tremendous increase in drugs seized and many of the drug
dealers were slain or arrested. The police claimed that the death toll comprised mostly murders perpetrated
by trafficking rings to eradicate the risk of minor dealers providing information to the authorities. The humanrights groups asked the government to consider the violation of human rights and the law because of theextra-judicial killing. However, after the massive drugs crackdown occurred, the numbers of drug offenders
was obviously decreased. The spread of glue sniffing and the abuse of alternative substances inhalation werereported.
2. Role of the Royal Family
His Majesty King Bhumibol has great concern for his people, especially the negative effects of drug
addiction that badly affect national development. In order to succeed in fighting against drug addiction, thenational motto “Love our king, care for our offspring, against drugs altogether” which represents the Thai
people’s loyalty to the King, has become one of the significant campaigns.
Princess Ubolratana, the first daughter of their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit, following in
the footsteps of her Royal Father and graciously accepted the invitation to be the chairperson of thecampaign. She wants the campaign directed mainly at youngsters by creating a trend of keeping away fromdrugs through the provision of an arena for them to display their individual talents and contribute positively
to their own lives and those of others. The Princess has therefore initiated the “To Be Number One Club” ineducational institutions to create the value of being number one without drugs. The Princess has also set up adrug rehabilitation facility under the theme of “Raise your hand if you’re a drug addict”. In addition,
Princess Ubolratana has been working as the chairperson of collaborative clinical research on the impact ofamphetamine use among Thai people.
III. PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES
A. Strategies and Programmes
The Ministry of Public Health has the responsibilities that follow through the strategy of mass people
power to conquer illegal drugs in three guidelines as: 1) therapy, treatment and rehabilitation in order toprevent and correct the addicts; 2) encouraging people power and prevention in order to prevent the potential
demanders from becoming addicts; and 3) drugs and chemical precursors control in order to control supply.
The integrated action plans have been established and effective and efficient standards of therapy,
treatment and rehabilitation have been developed for countrywide implementation.

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B. Strategy of Encouraging People Power and Prevention
1. Local Level
The local collaboration among the community institutions which comprise of families, communities,
authorities, temples or other religious organizations, schools and various government sectors from the
Ministry of Public Health, Military, Education, Interior, Justice and Labour have been set up as the Against
to Conquer Drugs Operational Centres at the district and provincial level. The A-I-C (Appraisal-InfluenceControl) technique is one of the chosen methods used to encourage and empower people, especially theleaders in the communities to fight drugs in their communities. By brainstorming, they will determine theprioritized actual activities to protect their offspring from preventable devastation. Surveillance andscreening techniques to differentiate the groups of drug abusers in the communities were employed.
Potential demanders who are occasional abusers, have some degree of behavioural change and still have anormal daily life but continue using though they know the risks of drugs, are classified as drug abusers.
These identified risk groups will be sent to the behavioural modification camps in the communities or toaccess psychosocial therapy for drug abusers in the schools or in the community clinics in order to prevent
them from becoming drug addicts. Both of the psychosocial therapy programmes are modified from theMatrix Model of Intensive Outpatient Treatment developed by the Matrix Centre, UCLA of U.S.A., which
was introduced into Thailand by the Department of Medical Services and Department of Mental Health,
Ministry of Public Health at the end of 2000. Most of the attendance of the programmes is voluntarily.
However, after the promulgation of the amendment of the Drug Addicts Rehabilitation Act which enters into
force one year following the day after its publication in the Royal Gazette on 30 September, 2002, thecompulsory cases under court order and court probation will engage in the programmes.
Types of prevention for potential demanders(i) Behavioural modification camps
The behavioural modification camps are in charge of the military camps, the troops of cavalry, the border
patrol police, the vocational schools, the ordinary schools, the provincial public health offices and thecommunity or the provincial hospitals. The five clusters of learning experiences were designed for the camps
curriculum as: 1) knowledge of drug hazards and group therapy, 2) emotional intelligence development, 3)family functions, 4) individual skill encouragement, and 5) Thai civil obligations. There are two activities in
the cluster of knowledge of drug hazards and group therapy. After finishing the session on the knowledge ofdrugs hazards, the participants are expected to be able to explain the hazards of drugs, to identify the causesof their drug abuse behaviours, to explain the nature of drug abusers, to differentiate the level of drugs
abusers and to explain the complications of drug abuse. There are four sessions of group therapy, which
apply the group process and emotional intelligence principles to change the participant’s attitudes andproblem solving towards relapse prevention. The activities in the emotional intelligence development cluster
consist of self-awareness activities; emotional managing activities; motivate oneself for goal achievement
activities; empathy with others activities; and social skills training activities. The activities in the cluster offamily functions are composed of oneself’s role in family, problem solving in the family, behaviour control
skills, family ties and care, emotional response in the family and communication skills in the family. The
activities in the cluster of individual skills encouragement are the activities called ‘my favourite club’ and‘club networking’. The activities in the Thai civil obligations cluster are comprised of environmental
conservation activities, cultural conservation, country and local important person admiration activities andreligious encouragement activities. Games, group activities, role-playing, case studies, skills training andexercises are utilized for the nine days and nights course. The monitoring period after the camp is one year.
(ii) Psychosocial therapy for drug abusers in the community clinics
The out-reach activities can be held in the health centres or even in the communities such as in temples
and factories, etc. The programme is comprised of 11 sessions of 1-2 hours. The group size is limited to
twelve. The participants go twice a week for 6 weeks. Their families have to participate in the first individual
session and the tenth and eleventh group sessions. After the end of the continuous activities, the staff follow
up once or twice a week for 2-3 months, and then once a month for one year. The topics of the sessions, inorder, are as follows:132

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1. Service Agreement and Consent (the conjoint session between the abuser and his/her family). The
purpose of this topic is to motivate and to prepare the abuser and his/her family’s mind. The
information of the therapeutic process and the service agreement will be interactively clarified.
2. Stop the Cycle. To learn about the relapse cycle, especially to explore the triggers and to find ways to
avoid the triggers are the objectives of the session.
3. Identifying External Triggers. To explore the external triggers, to review their daily life timetable andto avoid the external triggers appropriately are the objectives of the session.
4. Identifying Internal Triggers. By the group activity, the participants will understand the trigger
effects of both positive and negative feelings that lead to relapse. The group will learn from eachother to manage their internal triggers.
5. Body Chemistry in Recovery. To provide knowledge about the physical change during drug use andthe changes which occur in the recovery process are the purposes of the session.
6. Early Recovery Problems. The problems that occur in the early recovery phase are valuable to learn
and to prepare for problem solving.
7. Thinking, Feeling and Doing. The participants have to learn how to separate their thoughts, feelings
and behaviours. To learn how to change and control their behaviours in the process of abstinence isessential.
8. Self-help Groups. Self-help groups that are established by the participants and their families will bebeneficial for sharing experiences and psychological support.
9. Simple tips from 12-Step Activities. To review the twelve steps principle of the Narcotics
Anonymous Group is valuable for the participants.
10. Avoiding/Coping with Relapse (family group session). The families should understand both theexternal and internal triggers which are the conditions promoting relapse. The families should learn
how to prevent those conditions.
11. Living with Addiction (family group session). By discussion in the group, the participants and thefamilies can learn to live together from other families’ experiences.
(iii)Psychosocial therapy for drug abusers in the schools
This programme is modified for the students in schools. The trained teachers and students who have drug
abuse screening ability will report to the classroom teachers. The classroom teachers will verify the data byconfidentially interviewing the suspected students. Urine tests for drugs are requested from the strongly
suspected but the students refuse. After verification and persuasion, the students and their parents will be
introduced to the programme. The school director and administrators have to set the guaranteed system forindiscrimination prevention. In this programme, the teacher will be trained to be the group leader and the 812 potential demand students are the group participants. Seventeen sessions are run over nine consecutive
weeks with two sessions per week. It takes 1-2 hours for each session. The component of the programme is
the integration between the application of the Matrix Model of Intensive Outpatient Treatment and the Life
Skill Group. The 6 sessions of the Early Recovery Skills Group, 2 sessions of the Relapse Prevention Groupand 3 sessions of the Family Education Group are modified from the Matrix Model of Intensive Outpatient
Treatment. However, the sessions contained in this programme are somewhat different from the above
programme in the community clinics. The included five Life Skill Group sessions are also identified fromthe psychosocial implicit need of the youngsters. The sequencing topics of activities are as follow:
1. Mind Contract (the parents join in the group). The objective is to encourage the parent, the students
and the teachers to join hand-in-hand in order to change the drug abuse behavioural pattern of thestudents in the school.

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2. Life Tree. To promote the students to compare their own condition before and after drug abusing is
the objective of this activity.
3. Speedy-Pill Hazard. The group activity encourages the students to identify the triggers that lead themto drug abuse, and to list the impacts of the abuse behaviours.
4. External Triggers. The designed group activity is to facilitate the students to realize the influences ofexternal triggers over their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The students should identify their own
risks in order to avoid such situations.
5. Internal Triggers. The students will learn their emotional states, the internal triggers, which are thecauses pushing them back to abuse drugs. Emotional management skills are one of the preventablefactors that will be taught in the group activity.
6. Thought Stopping Technique. The students are facilitated to identify the applicable thought stopping
techniques, which are the critical steps to short cut the drug abuse behaviour cycle.
7. Recovery Roadmap. The students can find their own methods to avoid or correct the trigger
situations in each step of the drug abuse cycle.
8. Trust. The students will be encouraged to accept that even though they are in the steps of abstinence,
their families and friends still might not trust them. Trust depends on the students’ intention tochange.
9. Family Roles. The parents will join in the group session. The students and their families will solve
the problems caused by drug abuse together. They will identify their definite roles in such events.
10. Quit the Risk Behaviours. The activity will provide for the students to analyze and to be aware of therisk behaviours which make them prone to relapse.
11. Leisure Activities. The students can identify appropriate leisure activities because wasting time isone of the triggers.
12. Study Development. From the group activity, the students will realize the importance of study. They
will respect themselves after they have progression in studying.
13. Decision-Making Skills. The students will be trained to have the decision-making skills that areimportant, especially in risky circumstances.
14. Assertiveness. The students will learn how to say no and still keep a good relationship.
15. Old Friends and New Friends. The students will explore their strengths and weaknesses in order tochoose good friends and to establish positive relationships with friends.
16. Life Goals. The parents have to join in the group session. The students and the parents will be
encouraged to determine the students’ life goals together. The students will have enthusiasm andmotivation to achieve their goals.
17. Monitoring. The monitoring sessions are set up in order to maintain the students’ continuous relationand self-help group activities. They will meet each other regularly on the 1st, the 4th and the 8thmonth after group closing.
However, the above-mentioned programme has been in the pilot process. If there isn’t a school-based
programme, but there are students who need it, the students will be advised to access the outpatient treatment
programme at a nearby hospital.

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2. Country Level
The nationwide campaign has been launched by the coordination of the government sectors and nongovernment sectors. As mentioned above, Princess Ubolratana, as the leader, has performed concerts in theuniversities and colleges to cheer up the students under the slogan of “To Be Number One”. A famous Thai
professional tennis player is the presenter and role model for youth on various channels of the mass media.
The picture of his endurance, perseverance and intention to achieve his life goal is the symbol of a newchallenge that would replace the value of drug use.
C. Diversified Treatment and Rehabilitation Programmes
The holistic approach of standard treatment and rehabilitation for drug addicts are (1) to develop theclients and their families’ potential, (2) to encourage the clients to set up the structure of their life to accord
with normal living in society, and (3) to enhance vocational skills.
1. Outpatient Programme
The 16-week Matrix Intensive Outpatient Programme of the Matrix Centre, the prototype for thetreatment of stimulant abuse and dependence disorders, has operated in Thailand since 2000. The
programme consists of 10 sessions of Individual/conjoint sessions, 8 sessions of Early Recovery Skills
sessions, 32 Relapse Prevention sessions, 12 sessions of Family Education and 4 sessions of Social Support
Group. The participants have to meet the therapist three days a week. Urine testing for drugs is conducted
weekly. After finishing a 16 weeks intensive course, the clients are encouraged to participate in the Social
Support Group once a week from the 17th through 52nd week. The Individual Sessions are designed toorient the patients and his/her family members to the expectation of the Matrix Programme, complete theadministrative documentation, and establish rapport with the client to encourage treatment entry. The
progress review at 30-45 days of the treatment course helps the client create a continuing care treatment plan.
The Early Recovery Skills Group will help the client to receive many of the basic skills they need to achieve
initial sobriety. An introduction to 12-Step involvement is also included. The Family Education Group is theone element of the programme that regularly involves family members. The group is designed to beinteractive. The Relapse Prevention Group is the central element of the treatment model that is designed todeliver information, support, and camaraderie to patients as they proceed through recovery. The Social
Support Group is designed to assist patients in learning re-socialization skills in a familiar and safe
environment. The treatment courses have been started in the pioneer hospitals such as Thanyarak Hospital,
the Psychiatric Department of Rachaburi Centre Hospital, the Northern Drug Dependence Treatment Centre
and the North-eastern Drug Dependence Treatment Centre. The Drug Dependence Treatment Centres were
established under the Department of Medical Services, and were gradually set up in the northern, northeastern and southern part of Thailand since 1975. The second wave of pioneers consists of themultidisciplinary teams of the psychiatric hospitals and institutes under the Department of Mental Healthand the rest of the Drug Treatment Centres in Songkla, Pattanee and Maehongsorn Province. Incomplete
attendance of clients is common among the pioneers though the therapeutic teams use persuasion,
motivational interviews and telephone follow up, and so on. The modified programmes are variable, in termsof the duration, and the frequency of sessions over a week. Almost all of the modified models are adjusted inorder to overcome the common complaints of the clients and his/her families that they don’t have enoughtime, they have to earn money. At present, the course duration of the FRESH (F=Family, R=Relapse
Prevention, E=Early Recovery, SH-Self-Help) model, the so-called modified MATRIX Model in Thailand,has been shortened from 16 weeks to 12 weeks by condensing some repeated contents in the Relapse
Prevention Group, and adjusting the courses of the Individual/conjoint sessions and the Family Education
sessions. The follow up duration after the course is one year.
2. Inpatient Programme
The 4 months course of the FAST Model and the shortened course from 12-24 months of the TherapeuticCommunity Model, has been innovated by Thanyarak Hospital (now called the Thanyarak Institute) since2001 because of the increasing need. The innovation of the FAST Model is expected to be the model for
inpatient stimulant drug dependants in the Regional Drug Dependence Treatment Centres under the
Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Centre
under the Department of Probation, Ministry of Justice.
The FAST Model is comprised of the following components: (1) ‘F’ is Family Participation, (2) ‘A’means Alternative Treatment Activity, (3) ‘S’ means Self Help and (4) ‘T’ stands for Therapeutic135

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Community. The objectives of Family Participation are to provide the essential knowledge for understanding
and supporting the clients who struggle with drug abstinence. Moreover, to encourage the family to function
appropriately is one of the important objectives. The essential skills training includes problem solving skills,
communication skills, family role skills, affective involvement skills, affective responsiveness skills andbehaviour control skills. The Alternative Treatment Activity is set up to promote the clients to achieve theirfull potential, to encourage the client spending time in useful leisure, to facilitate them to express theirinterest and to encourage them to have acceptable careers. Self –Help activities are derived from theemotional intelligence promoting principle. The clients will be encouraged to analyze their basic emotional
intelligence, to synthesize the new skills in the component of emotional intelligence intuitively. The
Therapeutic Community is set up for the inpatient client to learn how to live as a part of the community. The‘help’ in ‘self help’ is the main principle. The variety of activities designed in group therapy, occupational
therapy and re-shape behavior therapy are based on the clients’ background and needs. Confrontations in themeetings, regulation in the dormitory and positive reinforcement are the key tools in the TherapeuticCommunity.
The Drug Treatment Centres and other hospitals are the referral resources for treatment andrehabilitation and are the professional supporters for the prevention programmes in the catchment areas. The
roles and functions framework are determined by the associated Against Drugs Operational Centres.
D. Public Health Organization and Drug Addicts Rehabilitation Act
The new Drug Addicts Rehabilitation Act, the legal mechanism follow through, the national guideline ofoverhauling laws and justice process was implemented on 30th September 2002. The intention of the law is
to view drug users as ‘patients’ instead of ‘criminals’. The law introduces a system of compulsory
rehabilitation. Anyone arrested for using, possessing or selling drugs that the characteristics and the amountof drugs correspond to the declaration of the Regulation of the Ministry of Justice, will appear in court
within 24-48 hours. Checks on suspects’ physical and mental condition and social background will decide
whether they should go for rehabilitation or be prosecuted by the consideration of the Drug Addicts
Rehabilitation Subcommittee. The ordinary drug users or addicts will be sent for a suitable rehabilitation
programme not longer than 6 months. The rehabilitation period can be extended no longer than six months
each time if the outcome is unsatisfactory. The total duration cannot exceed 3 years. The public healthorganization will join in the stage of drug abuse or addict approval, the rehabilitation scheme and aftercare
follow up in the community.
The compulsory outpatient cases will attend the treatment and rehabilitation programme mentioned
above in the hospitals near their homes, while the compulsory inpatient cases will be admitted to Thanyarak
Institute, Regional Drug Dependence Treatment Centres or Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Centre,
depending on the convenience of the cases and their family’s accessibility.
E. Department of Mental Health and Criminal Justice Process in Drug Abuse Crime Prevention
In cases in which the addicts have a psychiatric illness that is a complication of drug abuse or there aredual illnesses exiting, the psychiatric hospitals or institutes under the Department of Mental Health will takeresponsibility. Psychiatric treatment is essential for preventing recidivism because the patients’ judgment isdisturbed by their illness. In addition, the Department of Mental Health also has the role of developing
mental health promotion; prevention, technologies associated with drug abuse problems, while Thanyarak
Institute, Department of Medical Services, has the major role in treatment and rehabilitation models
development, standard of services monitoring and carrying out the associated research.
The Galyarajanagarindra Institute and the Department of Mental Health has cooperated with the
Department of Correction to transfer mental health technology through the staff and the mental health inmate
volunteers in the prisons. They will not only help other inmates to cope with their mental and behaviouralproblems, but by the process of helping others, they also improve their sense of self-esteem, especially theinmate volunteer groups. Basic mental health skills will be beneficial in enhancing their competency in the
drugs rehabilitation activities in the jails in the future.

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IV. CHALLENGES AHEAD
The government has been active in the suppression of illegal drugs smuggling, drugs prevention,
treatment, rehabilitation and correction for many years. Substantial resources have been employed todevelop anti-drugs strategies, but the situation does not seem to have been satisfactorily rectified. Data
collection of illegal drugs crimes, drug abuse treatment accessibility and ad hoc research have been
established through the reporting system to the Office of the Narcotic Control Board. However, there is no
systematically designed data collection at the grass-roots level, which is linked to upper levels respectively.
The data analyzing and the channels of their dissemination also have limitations. Operational Centres are
expected to be the source of drug abusers data base in their regions. The well-organized data collecting
systems need diligent work. The consistency and continuity of any operational centres for any ad hoc
strategies waxed and waned in Thailand, thus political and administrative support are one of the successdeterminants. Many projects could not be identify which organizations are the real hosts, thus many projects
have a short life-span; the discontinuation of the outcomes inevitably occurred. The government under theleadership of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has great faith in the government service reform, hence thecertainty strengthening will be the expected substitution. In regard to the treatment and rehabilitation model
development, though the teams have been enthusiastic in modifying and applying the Matrix Model for Thai
culture, nevertheless there is no systematic research support because of the lack of a project monitoring
system. The role of the Institutions and organizations resulting from the government structure reform such as
the Thanyarak Institute and the Galya Rajanagarindra Institute etc. will be beneficial to eradicate thementioned weakness in the future.
V. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The declaration of the crusade against drugs under the leadership of the government, the massive drugs
crackdown, compulsory rehabilitation instead of imprisonment and countermeasures according to thenational guidelines are accepted nationwide. However, the conflicts of violations of human rights and law
because of extra-judicial killings require careful attention and administration from the government. The
burnout of the staff taking responsibility for implementing the Drug Addicts Rehabilitation Act should be
detected and prevented. The research and development projects of the effective prevention and enhancementof treatment that is suitable for the Thai people’s lifestyle needs a strong support policy. The mental healthimmunization booster for self-development is the essential element for crime prevention and correction in
the long-term.
VI. CONCLUSION
Whatever the perspicacious strategies and planning, the effective prevention and enhancement oftreatment for drug abusers will not become true if they are not implemented intentionally. The collaboration
among the criminal justice process, the public health sector and the community organizations has to beemphasized. The strengthening of the family institution and the other social institutions are the important
determinants in drug prevention and treatment. Let’s give a chance for the good people to return back to oursociety.

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