1. New Methamphetamine Epidemic in Thailand Apinun Aramrattana, MD, PhD Faculty of Medicine & Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand 1st Global Methamphetamine Conference: 15- 16 September 2008, Prague

2. Chiang Mai Thailand profiles Populations 63 m. 73 provinces

3. 13946 21894 29167 18353 27995 27082 30129385822940319117 NUMBER Source: Dept. of Medical Services, MOPH and Institute of Health Research,C U., ONCB DRUG DEPENDENCE TREATMENT POPULATION 27155 V.Poshyachinda 79.4 Methamphetamine epidemics

4. 1 st National Household Survey on Drug Abuse: 2001 Users (age 12-65 yr.) x 1,000 EverPast yearPast month Any illicit drugs7,3121,942999 Marihuana5,425667210 Yaba3,4921,092490 Kratom leaf2,106644364 Inhalants934200101 Opium9073912 Ecstasy3604718 Heroin274239 Drug treatment capacity was < 50,000 patients. Source: The Office of Narcotic Control Board, Thailand, 2002

5. 3 rd National Household Survey : Provinces and Population Province North Central Northeast South Population Bangkok Total 1 9 6 7 6 29 Municipal Non- Municipal 2,084 - 3,102 1,040 1,474 797 8,497 2,365 5,930 3,614 6,227 18,136 Multi- stage block sampling 2007 All age 12-65 in selected households

6. Estimated Number x 1,000 [rate/1,000] Drug type Life time Past year Past month Meth. Tab.788.9 [17.0]66.3 [ 1.4]22.9 [ 0.5] Ecstacy124.3 [ 2.7]15.2 [ 0.3]3.3 [ 0.1] Ice41.8 [ 0.9]2.2 [0.05]0.6 [0.01] Opium229.0 [ 4.9]3.1 [ 0.1]- Heroin151.0 [ 3.2]3.9 [ 0.1]- 20 ธันวาคม 2550 ATS were more predominated than opiates.

7. บุหรี่ Cigarette s Meth. tab. Retrospective trends of new users ICE Ecstacy Crude analysis on the onset of drug used Meth. tab. decreased. Ecstacy increased. Ice was introduced recently and increased. War on drug 2003

8. 20 ธันวาคม 2550 Past year Life time Sex-specific Prevalence Male predomination was small among Ecstacy and Ice users.

9. 20 ธันวาคม 2550 Past year Age-specific Prevalence Meth. tab. was wide- spread among both youths and adults. Ecstacy was popular among young users.

10. New users tended to be young. 1947195719671977198719972007 10 0 20 30 40 50 60 70 Age Age-at-initiation Trends Calendar Year

11. Poly-drug use Marihu ana Chat leaves Inhalan ts Opium Heroin Ecstacy Cocaine Ketami ne Ice

12. Alcohol and Substance Use Patients at OPD Suan Prung Psychiatric Hospital 1995-2006 War on drugs Rehabilitation law Short-term impacts of the ‘War on Drug’ Methamphetamine is still the most popular drug. Source: Suan Prung Hospital, MOPH

13. Ice users came for treatment at government hospitals were remarkbly increasing Source: ONCB Treatment statistics

14. 10,000+ 1 - 99 100 - 999 1,000 - 4,999 5,000 - 9,999 Amount (kg.) 2003 38.3 kg.. 15 kg. 2004 148 kg. 20052006 36 kg. 2007 20.8 kg. Ice has recently been introduced to Thailand a few years ago and rapidly expanding to cover all parts of the country. Ice : Seizure statistics

15. สำนักปราบปรามยา เสพติด The 1 st clandestine lab. Producing Ice seized near Bangkok, July 2008.

16. Thailand passed through a maximum peak of large methamphetamine epidemics around 2003. While its accessibility and availability were decreased, users turned to other drug for substitution. The large demand size led to another recent epidemics of Ice (methamphetamine crystal) among youths. This could develop further and pose health risks to the new users. Conclusion

17. Acknowledgement: The Executive Program Committee of the Conference Late Professor Vichai Poshyachinda, Drug Dependence Research Center, Chulalongkorn University The Office of Narcotic Control Board (ONCB), Ministry of Justice, Thailand Thai Addiction Researcher Consortium Chiang Mai University, Thailand Drug users and workers