GUIDELINES FOR THE REDUCTION OF DRUG OFFENSE BEHAVIOR AMONG THAI CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN BANGKOK

Abstract

          This research was a qualitative research with field study in the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection. The purposes of this research were to study the problem of drug offense among Thai children and youth in Bangkok, and to study the guidelines for reducing drug offense behavior among Thai Children and Youth in Bangkok. The sample groups of key informants were knowledgeable people, practitioners and general stakeholders. The researcher collected information through interviews, observation and focus group. The qualitative data were analyzed using Analytic Induction and presented by the descriptive method.

          The study found that there were the problems of drug offense among Thai children and youth in Bangkok. The family parenting problems were having imperfect family conditions, the problem in family or had some conflicts. The friend problems were persuasion from friends, wanting to experiment, curiosity, and prank. The residential environment problems were living in an area with a high number of drug users, poor living population, lack of education, and frequent entry and exit of strangers. The public media problems were illegal smuggling of abuse and business.

          Guidelines for reduction drug offense behaviors among Thai children and youth in Bangkok were: 1) Prevention of drugs in educational institutions, such as adjusting the environment, providing sports facilities, educating about the dangers of drugs, and providing service projects regularly. 2) Prevention of drugs in the community, such as eliminating of sources of abuse mingling and selling drugs, providing development activities for children and youth, counseling and suggesting, economic and social development  in the community.