People must help fight drug problem: Paiboon

JUSTICE Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya urged Thais yesterday to help think of ways to truly curb the country’s drug trafficking problems.

"When the authorities are unable to suppress illicit drugs, people should find ways to live with it provided such substances don't cause harm to society," Paiboon said, emphasising that the idea to downgrade the threat of 'yaba' he mentioned this week is not yet backed by any clear study.

He said Thai society should voice opinions and ideas on this. He also said society should also reflect on the fact that alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and coffee are being sold freely when they also have psychotropic impacts on users.

After reporting the results of the April 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session to the PM, Paiboon said the world trend suggested that violent crackdowns on the smuggling or use of narcotics may no longer be effective. The change in ideas was a result of studies that showed the ingredients of methamphetamine, cocaine and opium could be used medically, while marijuana was used to treat cancer.

Paiboon said Thailand's past anti-drugs measures focused on destroying manufacturing sources, intercepting smuggled ingredients and arresting dealers. However, most of the people arrested were retailers or individuals hired to carry drugs. This led to overcrowding in prisons and, without proper rehabilitation, they just returned to the vice when they get out of jail.

The Narcotics Control Board had tried to solve the problem, he said, by drafting drug laws and |regulations and was considering legal amendments on the level of punishments for manufacturers, dealers and abusers.

People must help fight drug problem: Paiboon - The Nation