CHAMLONG'S YOUTH WAR ON DRUGS

A "quality-of-life" training camp raising anti-drug awareness among Thai
youth wrapped up recently under the leadership of Maj-General Chamlong
Srimuang, who chairs the Dharma Centre in Ayutthaya province.

More than 1,200 young people from across the country attended his three-day
anti-drug camp, which emphasised youth volunteers helping to get people
free of addictive substances including drugs and alcohol.

Chamlong said the programme was developed with the cooperation of the Thai
Health Promotion Foundation to promote awareness about the dangers faced in
each community across the country.

"The government has carried out a war on drugs for more than a year, but it
has not focused on youth groups. Children need to be educated about
alcohol, tobacco and drugs in order to make safe decisions," Chamlong said.

The 1,200 students were encouraged to help pass on anti-drug information to
others who did not attend the camp.