Drug rehab programme attracts 500 applicants on first day
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As many as 500 drug addicts applied for the drug-rehabilitation programme when it was launched yesterday, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri said, adding that the goal was to have at least 400,000 drug addicts join the programme voluntarily by next
Presiding over the launch of programme, Wittaya said the drug problem in Thailand had become more severe, threatening people’s security of life and property. Approximately 1.3 million drug users were identified this year alone, which is six times higher than the international standard. He said that up to 60 per cent of the drug problem was concentrated in Bangkok and its vicinity, which is why the government is making this part of the national agenda and will uphold the principle that drug abusers were patients in need of rehabilitation.
Wittaya said the ministry has prepared drug rehabilitation centres at 928 community and district hospitals, adding that the first day of the campaign yesterday attracted 500 applicants, which far exceeded the target of 300 applicants.
He said that in fiscal 2010, 114,074 drug addicts joined the government’s rehabilitation programme, of whom 28,154 had joined voluntarily, 71,311 were forced and 14,609 were made to join by court. Of the addicts, about 41,960 were aged between eight and 24, while 23,548 others were in the 25-29 age range, he said.
Public Health inspector-general Boonreung Traireungworawat said the latest campaign had attracted so many applicants yesterday because this was on a voluntary basis in which the addicts are treated, not prosecuted – unlike the previous practice of sending them to jail first. Once the applicants have been screened, those eligible would be sent to rehab facilities in nine days, while those with prolonged drug abuse will be admitted to the Thanyalak Institute for treatment. Bangkok alone has about 100,000 drug addicts and up to 11 per cent of them are under the age of 15, while 20 per cent of the users are women, he said.
Thanyalak Institute director Dr Angkura Pattarakorn agreed the average age of drug users was dropping, and that up to 90 per cent of the addicts admitted at the institute used either ya ba or crystal methamphetamine. He said that up to 70 per cent of the users hallucinated or suffered paranoia.
