On October 29th, 2020 at 09.00am, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pimporn Thongmuang, Acting Director of Samut Songkhram Education Center, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, participated in the meeting of the Committee on the Prevention and Suppression of Narcotics, Samut Songkhram Province. Mr. Suphot Yossingkham, Deputy Governor of Samut Songkhram Province, chaired the meeting of the Committee of the Center for Prevention and Suppression of Narcotics of Samut Songkhram Province while the chiefs of government agencies and related departments attended the meeting.

            This meeting was held in order to report the results of the implementation of drug prevention in Samut Songkhram Province and the situation on drugs in region 7, which was found that drugs smuggling in the western region. The situation must be monitored for and prevented before they would be delivered to other areas, through both main routes, alternative routes of all provinces, and by train. Another objective is to monitor the spread of heroin in all areas by modifying personal cars with secret or hidden compartments, mixing with other items, such as tucked into grease tanks, and pretending to be tourists. The results also found that the main smuggled drugs were Methamphetamine and Ice, while the overall drug situation in Samut Songkhram Province from October 2019 to September 2020, contained 162 major drug traffickers arrested, 34 results of operations according to 1386 complaints, D.A.R.E. project in Semester 1/2020 was held at 36 schools, 1108 students were in the school adjustment program for 195 times, of social organization around the school, 185 blockades for drug screening. Moreover, there are reports on the progress of drug rehabilitation operations from 3 sub districts, reports of operations to reduce the impact of psychotic drug patients, and reports on the performance of various organizations.

          The Narcotics Prevention Action Plan 2021 has an important operational framework consisting of the interception of drug import/ export, the destruction of commercial networks, crackdown on key traders, suppression of epidemic sources in villages and communities, along with raising awareness and understanding through all media channels for high-risk age groups to prevent new addicts, creating safe areas and community participation, getting addicts into the treatment process, promoting community-based therapy, and following up and taking care of those who have passed the treatment with community participation. The meeting was held at the Mae Klong Meeting Room, 5th Floor, Samut Songkhram City Hall.

Reporter: Chayanisa Wanna