Phasakorn Channgam
Pattaya officials and community leaders from 38 local
communities re-visited a community-based anti-drug plan first started in
Pattaya a year ago.
Senior Sgt. Maj. Wittaya
Chansiri.
The Office of Narcotics Prevention and Suppression’s Sen.
Sgt. Maj. Wittaya Chansiri led the Feb. 9 session that discussed the
establishment and operation of community projects to provide activities,
education and training for drug users.
The program called on chiefs of 38 villages to establish
committees to keep better tabs on abusers, dealers and sources of drugs and
report offenses to police. He said it also emphasizes the importance of
access to assistance, care and prevention. In cases of addiction, the drug
user would be interrogated on the source of narcotics and given a “second
chance” through rehabilitation.
In the case where a user is also a minor dealer, the
addict would be used to catch larger dealers.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said that the program has
helped, but there is much more to be done. “Over the past year, it has been
found that drugs have been reduced considerably, but to completely eradicate
drugs, Pattaya City needs to keep presenting more information on the issue
to the communities.”
Wittaya said, “For the program to be a success, we need
cooperation from all sectors including suppression, prevention, and
particularly, rehabilitation for addicts who should be considered as
patients by the medical industry. These patients need encouragement and
support from families and communities to help them permanently stop their
addictive behavior.”
After the meeting, plans were made to visit the
Rattananurak rehabilitation center in Lampang Feb. 20-22.
