Due to its proximity to the border and the abundance of
drug smuggling in the area, vocational students in Chiang Rai are a high
risk group to fall into the abyss of drug addiction.
Kamol
Thaiyapirom, Narcotics Control Board Northern Region coordination division
director
In an attempt to stem the tide of this corruption of our
youth, Chiang Mai Vocational College recently ran a training course on drug
problems for college teachers. This was held at the Chiang Mai Phucome Hotel
on July 28.
The training course was held because vocational and
technical college students in all areas are considered a high risk group.
Saweng Saensinghchai, deputy director of Chiang Mai
Vocational College said he believes the drug situation involving vocational
and technical college students has diminished following the government’s
war on drugs campaign.
However, all colleges still have to be wary, as there is
still a chance that 5-7 percent of these students might become involved with
drugs. Ya ba is reportedly the most popular drug with students.
Kamol Thaiyapirom, coordination division director of the
Narcotics Control Board, Northern Region, revealed that the division found
that 8.9 percent of drug users and addicts are youths. He said that Chiang
Rai is ranked the city most at risk because it is located close to
neighboring countries where many of the drugs are produced. Many illicit
drugs are smuggled through that province.
Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Lampang and Nakhon Sawan were
also ‘at risk’ cities because they have many universities and academic
institutes.
Kamol also revealed the progress of the government’s
program to prevent drug smuggling and spreading within communities. He said
currently about 70 percent of communities in the campaign have become
sustainable drug-free communities, while the remaining 30 percent are still
part of the drug cycle.
The government’s goal is to ensure 95 percent of communities are
sustainable drug-free communities by September this year.
Have
you seen the rain and heard all the thunder and lightening that we have been
having lately? The other day Marvin put on his swimsuit because he wanted to
go out and play in the rain. He was hot and he thought that it would be a
fun to cool down. I told him that it was not safe to do that because
lightening is very dangerous. Did you know that you should not go outside or
go swimming when it is lightening? The power from the lightening can
electrocute you. So Marvin decided to stay inside and have a nice cool drink
to help him cool down and he played a game with me. What do you like to so
when it is raining outside? You can send your letters to:
Mukarin
Mayeo from Chiang Rai, Sakchai Puypantawong from Tak, Tanin Anu from
Lampang, and Angela Storch from Brazil.
Sakchai
Puypantawong from Tak received his Royal Best Student Award from Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
