JUSTICE Minister Tawee Sodsong revealed that each year as many as 70 to 80% of new conscripts doing mandatory army service are addicted to drugs and urgent discussions are needed to solve this problem and introduce rehabilitation measures, TV Channel 7 said.
Under the 1954 Military Service Act, every April men aged 21 or older draw cards in a lottery system to find out whether they will be conscripted: black means exemption from service, while red requires two years of duty.
Tawee said out of approximately 80,000 conscripts, 70-80% are drug users with 10% being severe addicts whose families sent them to the military because they see it as a safe place for them.
Meanwhile a representative of Army Commander Gen. Pana Klaewplodthuk said the current solution is to send severe drug addicts for medical treatment but the army is able to take care of those not heavily hooked on drugs ensuring that they are able to quit 100%.
The Army Commander is concerned but has no choice as he has to do his duty to the best of his ability.
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Top and Front Page: New conscripts. Photos: Thai Rath
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