Pubdate: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand) Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2003 Contact: http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39 Author: Porpot Changyawa Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n084/a02.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Thailand Note: On Feb. 1, 2003, Thailand instituted a 3-month campaign to eradicate all drugs. ADDICTS STAY AWAY FROM REHABILITATION Little Evidence Of Users Saying `No' The city administration's addict rehabilitation centres are not attracting drug users despite the government's controversial crackdown. Manop Kovitaya, director of Wat Paiton Health Centre, said there were now rehabilitation units in all 62 city health centres, but few people were attending them. Lat Phrao and Wattana districts, for example, each had only four patients being treated for methamphetamine addiction in January and February. Last year, the city treated about 7,000 heroin addicts and almost 800 methamphetamine addicts. Only 300 methamphetamine addicts were treated under the matrix intensive out-patient system _ a United States approach which the city has aimed to make a key treatment for all the estimated 55,000 city addicts, Dr Manop said. Introduced in 2001, the matrix system involves both addict and family members in social and mental rehabilitation. It boasts a reduction of addiction relapse among patients from 95% to 30%. Dr Manop blamed lack of publicity for the low turnout, but expected numbers to increase as methamphetamines became more scarce and more expensive. ``Methamphetamine, unlike heroin, doesn't create severe suffering early in the quitting process,'' he said ``But the serious addicts with brain problems will find rehabilitation necessary.'' The city could treat up to 3,000 methamphetamine and 10,000 heroin addicts at once at all health centres. Ameena Beedinlae, leader of a Klong Toey community block, said there had been little enthusiasm in saying no to drugs on the Klong Toey area, even after the government raids. ``It's still common to see addicts sneaking to take drugs around here,'' she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk