SY01-4 * SITUATION AND COUNTERMEASURES FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IN THAILAND

Abstract

The non-medical use of therapeutic drugs, such as tranquilizers/hypnotics, analgesics and cough/cold remedies has become a growing public health problem in Thailand. The purposes of abuse include recreation, replacement for other addictive substances, to achieve a more intoxicated feeling from other substance, and crime. Misusers of these drugs are able to obtain supplies on the black market especially via the internet. Some come from indiscriminate prescribing due to physicians' unawareness of the dangers. The drugs may also be obtained by theft or from the corrupt sale of legal supplies. The highest rate of indictment in 2011-2012 was for cold remedies (i.e. ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine), followed by benzodiazepines and codeine-cough syrup. Based on the latest national survey in 2011, the rates of non-medical use of analgesics, tranquilizers/ hypnotics and antitussive in the past year among Thais aged 12-65 years were 3.69, 0.94 and 0.93 per 1000 populations. The rate of analgesic use was higher among men while tranquilizer/ hypnotic use was higher among women. Whereas there is a need for increased enforcement of illegal supply, there is also need for intensified public health measures and education of physicians and people to increase awareness of the dangers of misusing these drugs. Language: en