Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has endorsed initiatives to allocate seized assets from narcotic drug cases to fund the rehabilitation of drug addicts. The new approach aims to strengthen drug rehabilitation efforts by utilizing resources more effectively.
Somsak highlighted his previous tenure as the Justice Ministry chair, during which he amended several narcotic laws, particularly those concerning asset seizures. He pointed out that the old laws were ineffective, resulting in only 20 million baht being directed annually to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board’s (ONCB) narcotic drug fund—a figure he believes should be significantly higher.
“We need to shift from defensive measures to prioritizing asset seizures and offering rewards for tip-offs,” Somsak stated. He explained that various sectors are working together to ensure the law allows the ONCB’s narcotic drug fund to support the rehabilitation of patients suffering from mental disorders linked to chronic drug use. This initiative aligns with the recent update to the Public Health Ministerial Policy on Drug Possession Act, published in the Royal Gazette, which emphasizes encouraging drug users to undergo rehabilitation.
Somsak emphasized that combating drug abuse is a national priority, which includes providing treatment for addicts. The ministry has developed Community-based Treatment and Rehabilitation and Harm Reduction Centres (CBTx) across the country. These approximately 10,000 CBTx facilities have become essential in helping addicts and drug users access comprehensive treatment.
Upon completing rehabilitation at CBTx centers, patients are transferred to one of the 3,258 Social Status Rehabilitation Centres to prepare them for reintegration into society. Last year, over 1.9 million narcotic drug users in Thailand received medical help for their addiction, with 38,000 cases classified as critical, according to the Bangkok Post.
In related news, more than 80 patients escaped from a drug rehabilitation center on Koh Sriboya, an island in the southern province of Krabi, citing alleged abuses by Thai authorities. A community leader on Sriboya Island reached out to officers from Khlong Kanan Police Station for assistance, as residents grew concerned about the patients who had absconded from the center and gathered at a pier to cross over to the mainland of Krabi.
Minister Somsak and other officials emphasized the importance of these initiatives, underscoring the collaborative efforts between various sectors to ensure the success of drug rehabilitation programs in Thailand.
