ผู้วิจัย/Authors: Siriyong P

ชื่อเรื่อง/Title: Drug Addicts in Thailand (1993-2000): From Heroin to Methamphetamine

แหล่งที่มา/Source: Bulletin of the Department of Medical Services, Vol. 27, No. 3, March 2002, Page 124-130.

รายละเอียด / Details:

The severity of drug addicts in Thailand has increased in the past 3-4 years. This report aimed to study the changes in the type of drug used, demographic data of drug addicts in Thailand and the outcome of treatment in Thanyarak Hospital to find to proper management of the problems. Retrospective descriptive study by reviewing demographic information, diagnosis, HIV infection and the outcome of treatment in the drug addict patients from all treatment centres in Thailand and the treatment outcome of the inpatient drug addicts at Thanyanrak Hospital was done. We found that total number of patients increased from 82,620 cases (158 centres) in 1993 to 100,670 cases (188 centres) in 1995, but decreased in the last 3 years to 67,155 cases (401centres) in 2000. Males constituted more than 94% in each year. Mean ages decreased from 30.2+-13.5 to 28.4+-10.6 years. Most of the patients were labourers or were unemployed. The number of students also increased. Increased. Initially, students counstituted only 4.4% but in the last 3 years this increased to 1.5%, 14.9% and 14.1% respectively. The education level gradually increased. Heroin addiction was around 86.5-90.4% in the first 3 years but markedly decreased to 52.2% in the last year. Opium addiction was around 3.6% to 6.2%. Methamphetamine addiction markedly increased from 0.4% to 33.3%. Number of addiction in adolescence also increased. Addiction also increased in students. The treatments outcome of the in-patient at Thanyarak Hospital showed that patients who attended the whole 2-3 weeks first phase of treatment program was 30.9-39.6% but patients who joined the therapeutic community program was only 0.8-5.4%. We conclude that drug addicts in Thailand changed from heroine to methamphetamine especially among young students in the last 3-4 years. HIV infection in drug addict patients decreased according to the decrease of number of theroine usage. We also suggest that in order to manage the problems properly cares should be taken in adolescent group. Amphetamine problem should be emphasized and also the new and proper ways of treatment should also be considered according to the changing changing trend of drugs used.

Keywords: drug addict, heroin methamphetamine amphetamine, drug abuse, opium

ปีที่เผยแพร่/Year: 2002

Address: Department of Medical Services, Thanyarak Hospital

Code: 0000000039

ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1643

Country of publication: Thailand

Language: English.

Category: Abstract Journal.

Download: -