ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network contributed to the 10th National Conference on Substance Abuse
News / View / ADMN
Tuesday 8th of August 2017
ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network contributed to the 10th National Conference on Substance Abuse
The 10th National Conference on Substance Abuse under the theme "From Research to Thai and ASEAN Drug Policies" held on 1-4August 2017in Khon Kaen sidelined to the 4th ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network (ADMN) Operational Workshop on August 1, 2017. ADMN shared current drug situation, policy and strategy as well as research knowledge and innovations, and best practices in policy and implementation programmes addressing those problems in each ASEAN Member State at the 10th National Conference on Substance Abuse. This report session was set up as Symposium I of the said Conference with more than one hundred participants from Thailand and overseas guests. In addition to ASEAN Member States, representatives from China and the Republic of Korea, two of ASEAN Dialogue Partners, also made a presentation. Representative from China presented Drug Situation in China in 2016 on the second day of the Workshop while the representative from Korea gave a presentation on Korean measure to control nonscheduled chemicals in Symposium I after presentations from ASEAN Member States. On 2-4August 2017, ADMN Members from Cambodia, the Philippines and Viet Nam continued attending the 10th National Conference on Substance Abuse. Maj. Gen. Thong Sokunthea, Director of Department of Legislation, Education and Rehabilitation; National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) of Cambodia participated in Symposium 3: Community-based Prevention Programmes as a speaker with other 3Thai speakers. One Thai speaker, director of a district hospital in Chiang Rai, talked about the importance of early prevention and her programme in educating and mobilizing community participation in establishing a network to nurture and support IQ and EQ development in small children as well as to identify early signs of development deficiency to refer and support children with problems. Another speaker, a vice-director from a district hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima, talked about the role of community in social reintegration for drug patient in recovery and how a self-help and sufficiency economy community can strengthen protective factors in the community. One speaker was a sub-district chief in Khon Kaen, talked about the process of establishing a strong community against drugs which requires strong leadership and commitment of the whole community. In addition to the laws, this sub-district also has its own rules to prevent and control drugs established through a community platform and consensus.
Maj.Gen.Sokunthea shared experience of Cambodia in narcotics control that a conventional approach of strong law enforcement to bring drug offenders and drug users out of community found many of these people return with the same or even more severe problems. Therefore, the government of Cambodia also applied a community participation approach. The government has mobilized resources and participation from all sectors particularly family and community in drug prevention and control. In 2017, there was a six-month campaign to raise awareness in community and all sectors. Now many ASEAN Member States are enhancing the concept of strong community against drugs and emphasize capacity building of community. Cambodia was also promoting community-based treatment and rehabilitation.
ADMN members found the symposiums which provided knowledge, sharing sessions and lessons learned useful for them.
