Pubdate: Mon, 01 Jul 2002 Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand) Contact: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2002 Website: http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39 Author: Dr. R. Hamilton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) 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) - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk