KWAN NAN DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER IN NAN CLAIMS SUCCESS

Award Winning Rehabilitation

Nan province's Kwan Nan Drug Rehabilitation Center claims it has been
successful in drug rehabilitation, with Nan Governor Dr Suwat
Chokesuwattanasakul proudly stating that they had established the Center on
October 4, 2002.

Vocational training is offered to those who have already undergone drug
treatment and rehabilitation to enable drug victims to help themselves
reintegrate into their communities.

"The project is also meant to achieve community empowerment, and one of the
achievements of the Center is the information sources that have been
created in all villages to provide useful information on drugs. Through its
successful operations, this center has received several awards in
recognition of its anti-drug operations," he said.

At the Center, police, military personnel, public health officials,
independent organizations and NGOs are jointly helping to treat and
rehabilitate the residents. "About 7-8 people per village from all 904
villages in Nan were brought for treatment here at the Center," he said.

A spin-off has been a concomitant reduction in drug related criminal cases,
with the numbers falling to around 10 cases per month, from the previous
level of 200 per month.

The governor said Nan's social and economic sectors were better as the drug
addicts could be controlled; however, this is not meant to indicate that
the province was 100 percent drug free.

Led by Nan governor, Dr Suwat, the Center emphasizes drug problem solutions
in the communities and with rehabilitation and training courses provided
for them.

"Most of them, or 95 percent, would not return to drugs again," confirmed
the governor.

So far, 34 classes or 6,698 drug addicts have been trained, and it is
claimed most of them have stopped using drugs. During the first classes,
from November 2002 - May 2004, they were trained and treated, giving them
an awareness on drug addiction and prevention and suppression in their
communities and villages, to make them part of the anti-drug and
rehabilitation movement.

Addicts range in age from 11-81 years, with most addictions being to ya ba,
alcohol, and opium. Once they are treated by the Center, they feel more
confident and it has been proved that the Centre has been successful in its
operations. "Love, forgiveness, understanding, sympathy, and good
relationships, like father and sons or daughters, are the tools of success
here," said Governor Suwat.