Drugs in Thailand: Assessing Police Attitudes

Abstract

This article examines the attitudes of Thai police regarding illegal drugs in the following areas: (a) drug-crime connections, (b) drug enforcement, (c) drug-related corruption, and (d) the seriousness of the drug problem The authors explore the effects of 16 independent variables on officers' attitudes derived from personal background indicators, institutional support measures, and drug offense information variables. Using data collected from a survey of 672 Thai police officers, they employ ordinary least squares regression and find that officers view drug enforcement as important, believe that drugs are linked to crime, and think that drugs are related to corruption. However, officers perceive poverty, unemployment, and the crimes of murder, burglary, and vehicle theft as more serious than drugs. The article concludes that drug enforcement policies must be implemented to avoid police corruption, and it calls for more research on the "war on drugs" in Thailand

Stigma, social reciprocity and exclusion of HIV/AIDS patients with illicit drug histories: A study of Thai nurses' attitudes

“…It is worth noting that the generalised image of the drug user or addict as a threat to personal and public safety draws upon the side effects of a wide variety of illicit drugs, many of which were not historically connected to HIV transmission because the substances could not be or were not commonly taken intravenously. The most common illicit drug taken intravenously in Thailand was heroin [ 39 , 40 ], a depressant not commonly known for causing hallucination or delusions. Drugs more known for producing these side effects in a minority of users belong to the stimulant and hallucinogens categories (e.g.…”

Evaluating The Seriousness of Police Misconduct

“…A few studies have examined how police officers viewed specific types ofcrime. For example, based on a sample of 672 police officers from three police agencies, Cheurprakobkit, Kuntee, and Vaughn (1998) examined the attitudes of police officers toward the drug war in Thailand. When comparing drug-related crimes to the VCR Index Crimes, the police officers evaluated drug-related crimes as less serious than murder, burglary, and vehicle theft but more serious than forcible rape, larceny, and aggravated assault (Cheurprakobkit et al, 1998, p. 90).…”

The drug situation in Thailand: the role of government and the police

“…Recent research on Thai police attitudes regarding drug enforcement shows that Thai police officers (1) have insufficient knowledge about drug laws, although they see the drug laws as having a deterrent effect [27,28], (2) perceive drugs as less serious than other social problems such as poverty, unemployment, crime (i.e. murder, burglary and vehicle theft) and corruption, and (3) receive insufficient agency support in terms of technology and finance necessary for them to enforce drug laws fully [7]. Moreover, despite several drugrelated scandals in the Royal Thai Police Force and the belief that drugs cause corruption, Thai police officers do not confirm the existence of drug-related corruption within their agencies [7].…”

“…murder, burglary and vehicle theft) and corruption, and (3) receive insufficient agency support in terms of technology and finance necessary for them to enforce drug laws fully [7]. Moreover, despite several drugrelated scandals in the Royal Thai Police Force and the belief that drugs cause corruption, Thai police officers do not confirm the existence of drug-related corruption within their agencies [7]. The findings of these studies indicate that the Thai government and Thai police officers are not equally concerned about the war on drugs, and that officers˜ attitudes regarding the seriousness of the drug problem may cause them to exercise broad discretion in dealing with drug offenders.…”

“…While these strategies seem to have an impact on reducing the opium cultivation area, there is an emerging problem of drug abuse among teenagers. Moreover, recent research also shows that the government˜s concerns regarding the drug problem are not shared equally by Thai police officers [7]. This article concentrates on the drug problem and the efforts of the Thai government to control it.…”