Readiness of Substance Abuse Treatment staff under the Department of Medical Services to support ASEAN Community

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study preparedness of Substance Abuse Treatment staff under the Department of Medical Services in Thailand, and problems obstacles; and to suggest practical guideline of Substance Abuse Treatment staff in entry into ASEAN Community. The research operation was starting from October 2015-September 2016. It is the descriptive research using questionnaire to study preparedness of Substance Abuse Treatment staff under Department of Medical Services in entry into ASEAN Community for 471 persons and focus group of Substance Abuse Treatment staff both from Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment and regional Thanyarak Hospital for 6 hospitals for 79 persons.

The finding indicated that 1) the potential of Substance Abuse Treatment staff for entry into ASEAN Community was in low level due to self-assessment of the personnel that they have been lacked of English skill in communication with Substance Abuse patients in the group of ASEAN countries who entered for treatment, resulting in low knowledge sharing in academic forum among ASEAN countries. The personnel have still lacked of knowledge and understanding on culture, drug law, privilege of assistance and referral of each ASEAN country;  2) development of Substance Abuse treatment organization for entry into ASEAN Community was in low level due to few number of patients in the group of ASEAN countries that entered for treatment. Therefore, the organizations have not yet been prepared to particularly support the patients in this group; however, in part of 3) the pattern of international standard Substance Abuse treatment for entry into ASEAN Community was in high level since the pattern of Substance Abuse treatment and knowledge which have been applied will be international standard and evidence-based way. Therefore, the importance that should be executed prior to preparedness in entry into ASEAN Community is the personnel potential development in using English, having knowledge and understanding of protection, privilege, health insurance and treatment referral of Substance Abuse patients in the countries in ASEAN group; the organizational development in organizational management that is favorable to treatment system via communication technology; and the development of database system of domestic treatment facilities to be the same base and able to link data for planning of cooperation among the countries in ASEAN group.