FIFTEEN CITY SCHOOLS JOIN DRUGS WATCH

Student Patrols Will Spread Word At Rca

More than 300 secondary schools nationwide, including 15 in Bangkok, are on
a General Education Department watchlist for drugs. Director-general Kasama
Varavarn said surveys of 2,500 schools showed that 327 needed close
supervision with more than one per cent of students using or selling drugs.

The result was much lower than some drug use estimates, which suggested 500
schools should be put on a watchlist, she said.

More than 12,000 students surveyed admitted having experiences with drugs,
especially methamphetamines, while 4,581 others said they were taking speed
pills.

Mrs Kasama said reports from some provinces that their schools were
drug-free would be double-checked. Heads of watchlisted schools would be
asked to a meeting with officials to discuss the problem, she said. The
situation at one Narathiwat school was so serious that 11 police officers
were stationed there in response to reports of 100 students using or
selling drugs and teachers being intimidated by gangs.

"We will tell schools in trouble to seek help from police.

"Any schools with too-hard-to-solve problems can telephone the department
so we can co-ordinate help," she said. - Police have dusted off a law
issued by military dictators in a fresh bid to protect the morality of
young people.

The law-a revolutionary party's order issued decades ago but which is still
in effect-bars young people from visiting entertainment places after 10pm,
says Pol Maj-Gen Thirasak Nguanbanjong, chief of the Metropolitan Police
division 1.

The move comes after police found that night spots such as the popular
Royal City Avenue are usually packed with more than 10,000 young revellers,
mostly under 20, every weekend night.

Authorities believe young people who frequent such places are prone to
become drug addicts or get involved in the sex trade.

A campaign will also be launched tonight to warn people under 18 to stay
away from night spots in the RCA area.

Under the campaign, a joint effort of city police and the General Education
Department, student volunteers in fancy dress are to visit the RCA area
every Friday and Saturday night to distribute leaflets warning minors to
stay away from night spots.

The campaign would later be expanded to cover all provinces, Pol Maj-Gen
Thirasak said.

The police would use every legal means possible to discourage people under
20 from visiting night spots, including warnings, strict ID card checks,
and background checks of staff members of night entertainment places, he said.