Fluidity of Steroids Problem and Policy Suggestionin Thailand

Abstract

Introduction: The situation of steroid problems in Thai has continued for a long time without any signs of becoming less severe. An important cause is a leakage outside of the control system. An important leverage point of the problem is the source of the steroids.  Methods: This is a qualitative study that collected data from documentary reviews, field reports, in-depth interviews, role play, triangulation, content analyses, and thematic analysis. Study results were obtained and policy suggestions were developed through periodic exchanges with experts between May 2013 – April 2015.  Results: The problem of steroids is not a new one. Thai society passed learning and problem solving for more than 40 years. The end level has always been the goal of problem solving. In the present, YACHUD, caravan of hawker, and steroid contaminated in herbal medicine were still found, whose severity was increased with drug advertising problems. The middle level discovered that drug distribution became more complex. Non-labeled and non-registered drugs were still smuggled to create YACHUD, sold in caravan of hawker and clinics. The factory of herbal medicine production had been adapted to produce herbal drinks that can be sold independently. At the upper level, the FDA Reporter system is currently used to control importation – exportation and production while the reporting system lacked analysis to deal with the problem. There were cases of smuggling in which they were falsely declared as veterinary medicine, animal food, or products that were less stricted, and reports of smaller imported quantities than the truth. They were then produced as unregistered steroids in many forms, where sale representative were the coordinator in trading, production, and distribution. Conclusion: To reduce the severe problem, it is imperative to seriously execute matters at the source level by 1. Increasing the strictness of imports by adding steroids to the Import and Export Goods Act of 1979, 2. The development of a goods and behavior monitoring system of watch risk groups, 3. The re-evaluation of steroid’s identity, 4. The adjustment of the steroid trade and distribution system to be purchased directly from the Food and Drug Administration, and 5. Solving the FDA Reporter system as a legally compulsory system.