REPEAT SURVEYS TURN UP FEW CITY SCHOOL DRUG TAKERS

Surveys On Drug Use In City-Run Schools Are Revealing Few Students Implicated

In one survey, out of 4,018 students from Prathom 6 to Mathayom 6 who
submitted to urine tests, only 25 were found to have traces of
methamphetamine, said Dr Krit Hiranras, the city's health director.
No drug use was found among the Grade 6 students.

The survey, made in December, involved seven of the city's 431
schools chosen for their known involvement with drugs at various
degrees of seriousness. "The result was not as we had expected. We
expected it to be a lot worse," said Dr Krit.

In another survey last month, 1,200 students in Mathayom 1 to
Mathayom 3 in 49 schools were put to the test. Traces of
methamphetamine were found in only 56. Dr Krit said the samples might
have been too small to reveal the true extent of drug use. Another
survey was being planned to ensure the result would be more
representative.

Those who tested positive would be sent to a military camp in
Kanchanaburi for rehabilitation, he said.

He was unable to estimate the number of speed pill users in Bangkok.
However, he said the city's 17 treatment centres had been visited by
about 12,000 people each year for the last two years.

A city-run drug rehabilitation centre on 34 rai of land in Prawet
district could accommodate another 50 patients.

Dr Krit said the city's anti-drug programme had been hampered by a
complicated bureaucratic system.

Co-operation was essential for an effective programme, he said.

"Our response to the drug problem is sluggish and that's a problem,"
Dr Krit said.

The Bangkok governor, for example, had no authority over officials
from government agencies such as the police, unlike governors in
other provinces.

The problem persisted despite the government's move in 1998 to set up
the Drug Prevention and Eradication Centre to ensure closer
co-operation. Within the city, closer co-operation was also needed
among education, health, and drug treatment staff, he said.

"If a city department wants to issue an order to a district office,
for example, it cannot do so directly. It has to be done through the
city clerk," Dr Krit said.

He praised Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for taking the lead in
the fight against drugs. As prime minister, Mr Thaksin had the power
to command action from all agencies, he said.