Campaign Against Drug Use Among Children on Koh Samui Emphasizes Proactive Prevention and Rehabilitation

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has revealed a plan to tackle drug problems on Koh Samui, stressing that the effort is not solely about arrests but must work from prevention in childhood through to treatment and rehabilitation for users. This program is part of a national policy aiming to reduce access to drugs in coastal communities and high-movement tourist areas.

The project has multiple dimensions, including running outreach programs in primary and secondary schools to educate students about the risks of drugs, teaching life skills and decision-making, and organizing creative community activities to give children and youth safe spaces for engagement. There are also plans to improve access to treatment, such as adding methadone distribution points for opioid users and expanding rehabilitation and treatment services in recovery camps within Surat Thani province so patients receive continuous care.

The impact on the Koh Samui community is significant because the island is a tourist area with diverse trade and migrant labor. Some families depend on income from tourism businesses, which can be unstable. During peak tourist periods, certain drugs can spread more easily through tourist networks and entertainment venues. The community therefore needs measures to control high-risk businesses and to monitor risky behaviors among young people.

Community leaders and local organizations on Koh Samui say solving the drug problem requires coordination among many agencies, such as schools, hospitals, municipal authorities, police, and civil society. The establishment of subdistrict working groups to monitor and provide psychosocial counseling to at-risk families has been proposed as a basic measure. Training is also being provided for teachers and volunteers so they can offer initial counseling and promptly refer cases to relevant agencies.

For visitors to Koh Samui, authorities ask for cooperation in avoiding any involvement with drugs and to report observed risky behavior or drug dealing to local officials or the appropriate hotlines. This is important because the problem affects both tourist safety and the island’s reputation, which must be maintained in the eyes of international visitors.

The anti-drug campaign targeting children on Koh Samui is therefore a proactive effort that combines national policy with local implementation. If relevant agencies integrate their work effectively, it will help reduce future addiction rates, enhance community security, and preserve the quality and sustainability of tourism on Koh Samui.