Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - July 8, 2003
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
The study, conducted by Chiang Mai University's Research Institute for Health Science, the Public Health Ministry and John Hopkins University, showed that 37% of drug users who used to visit rehabilitation clinics in Chiang Mai had moved out from their houses due to government suppression.
Thasanai Vongchak, a Chiang Mai University researcher, said many drug users under pressure from the government's anti-drugs camapign went into hiding and shared syringes needed for injecting drugs like heroin because drug users' paraphenalia had become more difficult to obtain.
Lack of understanding on the importance of using clean syringes and the difficulty in coping with drug intake had made them more vulnerable to HIV/Aids infection, Ms Thasanai told the ninth national conference against Aids yesterday.
Surinda Kavichai of Johns Hopkins University said a large number of people who quit heroin had switched to other forms of illicit drugs, alcohol consumption or sleeping pills. Almost 30% completely stopped using narcotic drugs.
Outside the seminar 20 protesters from a network of drug users with HIV/Aids, held banners to draw attention to the lack of consistency in the government's 30-baht health scheme.
Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan ignored the protesters.
Wassawut Yimchaem, a network coordinator, said though the government supported drug rehabilitation, the 30-baht health-care scheme did not cover medications like distribution of methadone.
Drug rehabilitation and methadone were available free of cost only in Bangkok and a few big provinces, but it was not available in other provinces, he said.
"Many of us have to buy the drug on our own and if we don't consume it regularly, we will not be successful in kicking the drug habit," he added.
Mr Wassawut said many people with HIV/Aids who wanted to recover from drug use found it difficult to get access to treatment because of discrimination in their communities.
Piyabutr Nakapiew, another network representative, said the government should consider syringe exchange programmes for those who are in the process of recovering from drugs.
"People who carry syringes with them are often arrested by police on charges of attempting to use drugs, although they are making efforts to protect themselves from the risk of HIV/Aids infection," he said. The government also should not deprive drug users with HIV/Aids of their right to anti-retroviral drugs.
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