Drug abuse among children and young people has reached a worrying level, with more than half of all new juvenile criminal cases linked to narcotics, prompting calls for stronger prevention measures and community-based solutions.
The warning was issued at a policy forum in Chiang Mai recently organised by the Substance Abuse Academic Centre Foundation (SAAF) and the Northern Substance Abuse Academic Centre at Chiang Mai University, with support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).
Kittichai Lueakuakul, a foundation committee member, cited 2026 data from the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection showing that 7,041 of 13,741 new juvenile cases involved drug offences, accounting for 51.24% of all cases. He described the figures as evidence of a growing crisis among young people.
The problem has been compounded by falling methamphetamine prices, now selling for as little as 30-50 baht per tablet, making them cheaper than many meals and increasingly accessible to children and teenagers, he said.
Participants at the forum stressed that prevention should become the foundation of national anti-drug efforts.
Watcharapong Phumchuen, manager of the foundation, said drug abuse was closely linked to complex social structures, economic pressures and community environments.
He said long-term solutions could not rely solely on arrests and law enforcement, but required stronger community participation, greater public awareness and measures to reduce opportunities for young people to access drugs.
Building resilience among children and teenagers before they become involved with narcotics was equally important, he added.
The forum presented five case studies as possible policy options. They included research into e-cigarette access among minors in Chiang Mai.
