Failing drug-rehab centres face closure

Failing drug-rehab centres face closure

Inmates do push-ups in front of a drug drug abuse rehabilitation office at Khlong Prem Central Prison in December 2010. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Inmates do push-ups in front of a drug drug abuse rehabilitation office at Khlong Prem Central Prison in December 2010. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya on Thursday threatened to close drug-rehabilitation centres failing to actually rehabilitate people.

Speaking after a briefing on the voluntary drug-rehab system run by the ministry's Probation Department, Gen Paibooon said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had expressed concern about the ineffectiveness of the rehab system.

In theory, drug addicts who have undergone rehabilitation at the centres are supposed to return to society as good citizens, without returning to drug use. But many of the current centres have not effectively carried out that mission, he said.

Critics point to the length of the voluntary programs - just 10 days - as a major reason for their inability to cure drug addiction. Such programs also include have follow-ups for one year.

Thursday's meeting was to follow up on work by 29 units tasked with drug prevention and suppression operations, including the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, military, Royal Thai Police Office, Public Health and Interior ministries.

Gen Paiboon said the Probation Department and the Public Health Ministry, which control most of some 80 centres, should be able to explain why they have failed to do their job.

The minister said he would propose closing ineffective centres and would not open any more new ones.

Gen Paiboon said tallies showing how many drug addicts have been treated would be pointless if addiction is not effectively controlled. Billions of baht spent will have been wasted, he added. All agencies concerned must help solve the problem, he said.

Turning to prevention, Gen Paiboon said the Safe Mekong Project has been successful in curbing the smuggling of industrial chemicals used as precursors for drugs production.  

"China, India and South Korea are countries which use those substances for industrial use, but they may have been ordered in larger amounts than actually needed and the excess has been smuggled to drug producers.

"I would like concerned agencies to suggest ways of stemming the flow of precursors, particularly in the Golden Triangle area," Gen Paiboon said.

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