1. Drug Situation: |
Drug epidemic situation in Thailand during 2004 -2008 became more serious than that in 2003. The estimated figures of drug users all over the country in 2003 were 460,000 people compared with 570,000 people in 2007 and 605,000 people in 2008. There may be even more figures in this year.
There are 5 major factors worsening drug problems in Thailand: |
| 1.1 |
Drug smuggling near border areas Most illicit drugs in Thailand were smuggled from neighboring countries via border areas. Those drugs included methamphetamine, cannabis, heroin, and some club drugs. Major areas where illicit drugs were smuggled were located in 18 districts in 8 border provinces. |
| 1.2 |
Areas of serious drug problems There are 26 provinces belong to serious drug epidemic areas which represent 70% of all areas facing drug problems around the country. If the Government can reduce the seriousness of the problems in those areas, the overall drug situation can be adversely affected. There are 15,000 villagers/communities or 15% of the whole communities/villages that still face serious drug problems in 2008. |
| 1.3 |
Risk social factors There are norms and misbehaviors of youths as well as entertainment complex and poor environments which contribute to misbehaviors among youths and young people. |
| 1.4 |
The weakness of family and community This factor can weaken drug immunity among these social units to be unable to prevent their members from getting involved with drugs. |
| 1.5 |
Social and economic conditions At present, Thailand is also affected by economic recession like other countries around the world. Besides, the country is now facing a serious political conflict, high rate of crimes, unemployment, and poverty. These critical problems can cause the increase of illicit drugs in Thai societies. |
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2. Main objective: |
| To solve drug problems all over the country for better life of Thai people. |
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3. Operational Concepts: |
| 3.1 |
Concept of monitoring 4 factors to stop the expansion of drug problems: |
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- Monitor drugs by intercepting and controlling them to prevent drug epidemic in Thailand and catch drug smugglers
- Monitor areas by targeting major areas that are facing serious drug problems
- Monitor environments and factors that support the increase of illicit drugs, particularly risk factors
- Monitor drug users by reducing numbers of them in societies and communities
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| 3.2 |
Concept of balancing all drug control measures to support each other Focusing on one measure cannot solve over-all drug problems. Besides, it will have an impact on other measures. Therefore, all drug control measures have to be managed and harmonized to work smoothly |
| 3.3 |
Concept of taking drug abusers/addicts to treatment and rehabilitation programme as many as possible by focusing on using civil society and community participation to get more numbers of drug abusers to treatment and rehabilitation programme |
| 3.4 |
Concept of setting up goals/targets to prioritize the problems by focusing on solving drug problems in selected groups and areas which are facing a serious drug situation |
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4. Strategy: |
To improve conditions of 5 factors mentioned above which are supporting the increase of drugs in the country, the Government set up Five-Fences Strategy to fortify the country and people for their security. Each Fence is aimed at controlling drug abusers, drug traffickers, and groups of people who are sensitive to drug abuse (potential drug demand) in order to build up the front line to prevent drugs and control drug problems effectively.
The word “Fence” means to build up immunity and create activities as well as establish a working process to draw people participation from both public and people organizations so that they can effectively work together. Besides, drug control measures will be integrated to keep drug addicts, drug dealers, and risk groups away from drugs. This “Five Fences Strategy” is listed as follows:
Border Fence is to create activities and a process of work in order to strengthen drug law enforcement measures and interdict drug smuggling in target border areas.
Community Fence is to create activities and a process of work for all measures in order to strengthen drug immunity in the target villages/communities.
Social Fence is to create activities and a process of work for integrated social orders, and to eliminate all kinds of risk factors to build up drug immunity for all communities/societies.
School Fence is to create activities and a process of work in order to strengthen schools and educational institutions in building up a drug immunity for new generations.
Family Fence is to create activities and a process of work in order to strengthen families to be immune to drugs for being a strong unit of the Thai society as a whole. |
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5. Operational Targets: |
To reach the goal of reducing the seriousness of drug problems, the Government set up 3 major targets for drug control as follows:
Target 1
Target areas: |
- Major target area 1: The border areas of drug smuggling which are located in 18 districts in 8 border provinces:
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Province |
District |
Chiang Rai |
Mae Sai, Chiang San, Mae Chan, and Mae Fah Luang |
Chiang Mai |
Fang, Chiang Dao, Wiang Haeng, Chai Prakan, and Mae Ai |
Mae Hong Son |
Pai and Pang Mapa |
Nong Khai |
Maung and Bung Kan |
Nakhon Phanom |
Tha Uthen and Ban Paeng |
Mukdahan |
Muang |
Ubon Ratchathani |
Khemmarat |
Sa Kaeo |
Aranyaprathet |
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Major target area 2: Bangkok Metropolitan and and perimeter provinces; Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Nakorn Prathom, Pathum Thani, and Samut Sakhon
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- Major target area 3: 12 major drug epidemic provinces; Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchatani, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Karnchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Surathani, and Songkhla.
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- Major target area 4: 3 Southern Border Provinces; Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala
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Target 2
Drug addict population:
Increasing of drug treatment and rehabilitation programme:
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Set up total figures of drug users in treatment programme at least 120,000 people will undergo treatment in a voluntary system by using civil society and community participation to assist.
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Drug users/addicts in major target areas 2 and 3 will have to undergo suitable treatment
as many as possible.
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Target 3
Drug traffickers:
Reduce numbers of drug traffickers/pushers and their networks:
- Arrest and suppress drug networks/major drug traffickers as many as possible
- Arrest drug dealers in communities as many as possible
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Target 4
Nationwide:
Reducing the seriousness of drug problems all over the country, every province will set up goals and activities to be carried out in accordance with the Five-Fences Strategy and seven major projects. |
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6. Implementation:
To achieve the mentioned goals/targets above, and to implement them to be in accordance with the Five-Fences Strategy, the Government set up seven major projects to be carried out by government concerned agencies as follows:
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6.1 |
Border Fence Project: To intercept drug smuggling near border areas |
6.2 |
Community Fence Projec: To encourage community and civil society to take part in drug prevention |
6.3 |
Society Fence Project: To create integrated social orders |
6.4 |
School Fence Project: To prevent drug epidemic and abuse in educational institutions |
6.5 |
Family Fence Project: To build up strong families |
6.6 |
Drug Law Enforcement Project: To suppress drug traffickers/drug networks |
6.7 |
Treatment and rehabilitation Project: To set up integrated treatment programme |
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7. Integrated Plans: |
7.1 |
The operational plans of the Five-Fences Strategy and 7 major projects will be implemented in 2 patterns as follows:
- Integration at the central authority level means all host agencies together with co-host agencies and other concerned agencies which are set up in each project of 7 major projects will work together to set up goals/objectives, work guidelines, coordination, direction, support operational agencies at the provincial level, budgetary management, follow-up the project implementation, and mission assignment.
- Integration at the provincial level means each province will integrate all 7 projects and implement them in that province. Each project will be set up goals/target, implementation guidelines, concerned agencies, and budget.
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7.2 |
Set up concerned agencies to make integrated plans to solve major problems in 4 major target areas in 26 provinces mentioned above by making special plans as follows:
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Integrated plan to solve drug problems in Bangkok and 5 provinces nearby which will be carried out by Bangkok Metropolitan and Office of the Narcotics Control Board together with 5 Provincial Administrations as host agencies.
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Integrated plan to solve drug problems in border areas which will be carried out by the Thai Military Headquarters and Office of the Narcotics Control Board as host agencies.
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Integrated plan to solve drug problems in Southern border area provinces which will be carried out by Department of Internal Security Region 4 and Office of the Narcotics Control Board as host agencies.
- Integrated plan to suppress drug trafficking networks in prisons
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7.3 |
Assign responsible persons/agencies and set up management mechanism to direct each project/activity as follows:
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Border Fence Project: The Supreme Commander of the Thai Military is responsible for drug interception near border areas.
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Community Fence Project: The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Interior is responsible for encouraging communities and civil societies to take part in drug prevention
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Society Fence Project: The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Interior is responsible for creating integrated social orders
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School Fence Project: The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education is responsible for this project
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Family Fence Project: The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Human Security and Social Development is responsible for this project
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Drug Law Enforcement Project: The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police is responsible for this project
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Treatment and Rehabilitation Project: The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Public Health is responsible for this project
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8. Management Mechanism: |
Management mechanism for the implementation of the Five-Fences Strategy is set up as follows: |
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| 1st Period: Short-term implementation |
8.1 |
Narcotics Control Board is the national mechanism to set up national narcotics control policies, measures, and plans. |
8.2 |
Sub-committee, which will be responsible for 7 major projects, will be set up to monitor the implementation of the projects. |
8.3 |
Mechanism at the ministerial level is set up to command operational agencies/organizations as well as to coordinate with Operational Coordinating Centre 1 of Internal Security Department. |
8.4 |
Internal Security Department (ISD) is the direct mechanism as same as National Narcotics Control Centre (NNCC) to adopt policies from Narcotics Control Board for drug control implementation and coordination. |
8.5 |
Operational Coordinating Centre 1 of ISD which is set up to direct and coordinate drug control operations will direct National Narcotics Control Centre. |
8.6 |
Integration of drug control implementation at Provincial Level will be carried out by Provincial and District Command Centers for Combating Drugs by coordinating with other local concerned agencies. |
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| 2nd Period: Long-term implementation |
New structural management of Internal Security Department will be formally used in this period which will be directed by Operational Coordinating Centre 1. |
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| 9. Implementation Period: |
| 1st Period: |
April – September 30, 2009 |
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| 2nd Period: |
November 2009 - December 2010 |
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10. Evaluation: |
10.1 |
Set up teams for evaluating all projects according to government’s rules and regulations |
10.2 |
Make the official report |
10.3 |
Evaluation of project’s implementation outcomes will be conducted 2 times in June and September by:
- Evaluating the implementation outcomes of each project/activity to assess effectiveness/efficiencies.
- Evaluating the over-all national drug control implementation to assess the public’s satisfaction.
- Evaluating all mechanism at direct and operational levels for strategic assessment
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