The guidelines on preventive strategy for addictive substances and drugs prevention among children and youth group outside the educational institutions in Kamphaeng Phet Province

Abstract

The purpose of this research were to 1) study the state of drugs problem in a community according to the community leaders, children and youth group outside the educational institutions, 2) study the participation of community leaders, children and youth group outside the educational institutions, in preventing and solving drug abuse problems in the community, and 3) study the guidelines on preventive strategy and drugs prevention among children and youth groups outside the educational institutions.  This research used a mixed method design, collecting data with 300 questionnaires, with stratified randomization.  The qualitative part was conducted through group discussion and a conceptual mapping from 60 community leaders.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while qualitative data analysis was by content analysis. 

The findings were as follows: 1) community leaders, children and youth group outside the schools assessed that the situation of drug abuse problems in the community was moderate, the cause of the problems were from their families, community and children themselves, 2) the participation of community leaders, children and youth groups outside the educational institutions in preventing and solving drug problems in the community was at the moderate level, 3) the guidelines to build up the preventive strategies for drug problems among children and youth groups outside the educational institutions should start with the children themselves, by building up self-confidence and strong refusal skills for drugs in children and youth.  The seminar on illicit drugs should be held in the community so that people will understand the context of social change and will be able to support children and youth to stay away from illicit drug.  Moreover, there should be guidelines for the family such as understanding among all family members to behave properly when their family members are addicted to drugs.