DEVELOPING DRUG ABUSE REDUCING MODEL IN COMMUNITIES: A CASE STUDY OF CHALOEM PHRA KIAT, BURI RAM, THAILAND

Abstract

This article aims to develop a novel approach to reducing drug use and assess its effectiveness in a rural Thai community. The study employed Participation Action Research (PAR) to develop a model that involved the District Health Board (DHB) and community participation in addressing drug use problems. The research used qualitative and quantitative designs in 5 sub-districts and 67 villages of Chaloem Phra Kiat District, Buriram Province, from October 2020 to September 2021. The study found that involving the DHB, community leaders, village health volunteers, and community members productively reduced drug abuse. A decrease in the number of new and current drug users, drug-related mental illnesses, and drug users also was as stimulants for work, particularly methamphetamine. The study emphasizes the importance of local leaders and officials in reducing substance abuse in the community due to their critical understanding of the context and purpose of the work. This article provides an innovative approach to addressing drug use problems in rural communities, and the results are convincing evidence of its effectiveness. Keywords : Model, Drug Abuse, District Health Board, Community Participation DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.2.48