J Med Assoc Thai 2013; 96 (7):854

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Follow-Up the Outcome of Treatment of Inhalant Users in Northeastern Thailand
Watanaphithuk W , Ratanasiri A Mail, Kanato M

Background: Drug treatment in Thailand is categorized into three types, namely voluntary system, correctional system, and compulsory system. The latter is under Inhalants Law and Drug Addict Rehabilitation Act 2002 A.D.

Objective: Follow-up the outcome of the compulsory system treatment in inhalant user on probation program and evaluate hospital referrals and the process of follow-up in community.

Material and Method: A survey questionnaire adopted from KKU-VOUDIT was used in the present study in nine selected provinces of Thailand. Nine hundred ninety two people formed the study population and were divided into 95 administrators, 71 stakeholders, and 760 inhalant users.

Results: Inhalant users were classified as experimental (56.8%), harmful (24.2%), dependent (13.9%), and psychosis (5.1%). Majority of inhalant users were male (95.0%), 12 to 19 (61.3%), single (83.4%). In this group, 15.5% were students while 45.1% were temporarily employed, and 40.3% were unemployed. Most inhalant users never reused (72.2%). However, some users re-used but were not incarcerated (12.2%) while others re-used and were incarcerated (15.5%).

Conclusion: As the targets are youths, sub-district administrative organization, basic education office, and primary healthcare organizations should come together to bring about necessary changes.

Keywords: Follow-up, Outcome, Inhalant


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