IT DOESN'T HELP TO JAIL ADDICTS

It is with some shame that I am writing to ask why it is that Thailand has
fallen so far behind in its response to the terrible problem of drug use in
our community. There is no doubt, especially after last week's International
Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, that drug use, especially
among the young, is one of the most serious problems the community faces.

In that context, I was disturbed to see, yet again, the first line victims
of this terrible business, the ones who are addicted, being demonised as if
they were the problem, rather than casualties.

But more distressing was to read a policeman, Assistant National Police
Chief Lt-General Noppadol Somboonsap, suggesting that repeat offenders would
be put in jail, since they had exploited the government because they
relapsed after treatment.

If we are going to make any progress then someone has to educate such public
servants that drug dependence is a chronic, relapsing illness. Those who
have experience in the treatment of patients with this illness know and are
not surprised when patients relapse and expect treatment to take a long
time. They understand that, no matter how hard the patient tries and how
committed he is, relapses occur, not because they are failures but because
that is the nature of the illness.

I wonder if the police general has ever had an illness requiring treatment
with antibiotics, only to find that after the first course he is still
unwell and has to go back to the doctor to receive a second course or
perhaps a different antibiotic, which is then successful in helping him
overcome his problem.

Putting people in jail is not treatment; it will not help. Having a range of
treatments at the disposal of those providing treatment is part of the
answer. Having an informed public security force and judiciary is also part
of the answer.

This situation has to be compared with that in our neighbour state,
Malaysia, where doctors recently called for drug addiction to be treated as
a long-term illness, with appropriate treatment, under their supervision.
There may be times when Thailand is leading the way, but clearly on this
issue we are not.

Dr. R. Hamilton (retired)