An alleviation of drug abuse problem through neighborhood driving forces : a case study of Suan-Oy community in Bangkok metropolitan area

Abstract

This research aims to examine a driving process, pattern, and method of narcotic prevention and refinement in a community in Bangkok Metropolitan Area as well as the underlying factors that obligate people within this community to preclude drug abuse harms. The research employed various qualitative means including in-depth interviews, a focus group discussion, and non-participant observations. Twelve key informants consisted of the community chairperson, an assistant to the community chairperson, the community committee members, a religious leader, law enforcement officers, community resident representatives, and non-governmental organization agents. The research discovered that those key informants were instrumental in lessening narcotic troubles within the community. Three distinctive attributes to a driving process could be identified: 1) The community members were highly conscious of the narcotic harms, 2) The community upheld a strong determination to manage drug abuse problems, and 3) The neighborhood joined forces to safeguard the narcotic dilemma. Two dominant powers underlying the community driving forces were internal elements within the community itself consisting of community leaders, neighborhood inhabitants, school principal, and religious head, and external factors including law enforcement authorities and non-governmental organization. Four main sequential steps in the narcotic prevention and control process inside the community were recognized: 1) Building community awareness of narcotic harms, 2) Seeking neighborhood collaboration, 3) Soliciting support from relevant external agencies, and 4) Initiating projects and activities to forestall and prevent drug-related problems within the vicinity. The neighborhood was logically confronted with both internal and external impediments in narcotic deterrence. The internal barriers related to deprived economic condition, low education, budget constraints, and divergence in ideas. Difficulties from outside the community included the troubles caused by the law enforcement authorities' operations and political issues. It is recommended that community residents relentlessly continue their narcotic suppression activities in addition to network building with appropriate agencies to case the neighborhood drug tribulations in the area. It is obvious that the cohesive effort from both within the neighborhood itself and significant external parties was the fundamental reason for the success of narcotic prevention and control activities within the community.