Poll shows drugs are easy to buy and sell and are invisible

Currently, drug problems are a part of crime. There is a poll on Thai people and drugs, in which the sample group responded that drugs are easy to find, and 88.21 percent thought that the government was not very effective in managing them. Suan Dusit Poll, Suan Dusit University, surveyed public opinions nationwide on the topic of 'Drugs and Thai Society' between July 23-26, 2024. The survey asked 1,128 samples of people whether they had ever seen anyone close to them use or buy drugs in the past year. 47.70 percent of the sample answered that they had, and 82.54 percent thought that the reason people turned to drugs was because they were easier to buy and sell. 88.21 percent of the people thought that the current management of drug problems in Thailand was not very effective. When asked why they thought drug suppression in Thailand had not been completely eradicated, 79.40 percent of the sample answered that drugs were cheap and easy to find. As for cannabis and hemp, which are currently undergoing legal r eview, the poll asked how they thought that reclassifying cannabis and hemp as narcotics would affect the economy. The sample group answered that the economy would improve at 36.10 percent, the economy would worsen at 34.74 percent, and there would be no impact at 29.16 percent. The poll asked the public how they thought reclassifying cannabis and hemp as narcotics would affect the government's image. The first-place answer was that the image would improve at 45.12 percent, the second-place answer was that the image would worsen at 35.73 percent, and there would be no impact at 19.15 percent. When asked how the government would solve the drug problem, 81.14 percent of the sample answered that they would increase penalties and strictly enforce the law, while 56.91 percent expected the Royal Thai Police to suppress drugs. Ms. Pornpan Buathong, President of Suan Dusit Poll, said that the survey results reflect that the drug problem is no longer in the dark corner of society because drugs are 'easy to buy, easy to sell, and invisible', meaning that drugs are cheap, easy to find, and sellers disappear into the shadows. The suppression is not widespread, so the public sees that solving the drug problem is not as effective as it should be. Therefore, when cannabis and hemp are reinstated as drugs, some feel that it will improve the government's image. Suppressing the drug problem is a challenge for all relevant agencies that must urgently take action to build public confidence. Source: Thai News Agency