The Situation of Patients Receiving Drug Treatment in Prachinburi Province

Abstract

This descriptive cross-sectional study aims to describe the situation of patients receiving drug treatment in Prachinburi Province from 2019 to 2023, based on data from the National Substance Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Information System (NSTDA). This is secondary data collected between 2019 and 2023. The analysis focuses on the number of patients receiving drug treatment, their ages, and the types of drugs reported in the NSTDA from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. The results indicate that the number of patients receiving drug treatment, categorized by district in Prachinburi Province from 2019 to 2023, showed that Mueang Prachinburi District had the highest cumulative number of patients, followed by Kabin Buri District. The ratio of male to female patients receiving drug treatment was 10:1. The age group with the highest number of patients receiving drug treatment was those aged over 39 years (1,436 cases, 23.59%), followed by the age group 18-24 years (1,278 cases, 21%). From 2019 to 2023, the most commonly used drug was methamphetamine (yaba), with 5,106 cases (83.87%), followed by ice (methamphetamine) with 684 cases (11.24%) in Prachinburi Province. The trend in the number of patients receiving drug treatment showed a decrease, which may be attributed to several factors, one of which is the amendment of drug laws in 2021 that impacted drug management in Thailand, particularly the legalization of cannabis in certain cases. Consequently, the enforcement policy shifted to focus more on treatment and rehabilitation rather than punishment. In 2023, the number of patients increased, which may be due to various factors, such as heightened awareness of drug-related issues, the impact of social and economic conditions, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have led to increased stress levels among individuals, prompting them to turn to drugs as a coping mechanism.