PUBLISHED: 7 Apr 2024 at 17: 45
Most people disapprove of the president’s scheme of classifying those who take fewer than five meth pills as users rather than as dealers.
According to a National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ) poll, the policy has caused a rise in drug users.
On March 18 through to March 20, the Public Health Ministry conducted a survey among 1, 310 individuals aged 15 and over about the rules that allows those who take no more than five cocaine tablets to be regarded as drug users who are available for treatment in the wellness program rather than being charged in the justice system as they were in the past.
Some 67.4 % said they were completely against the government’s recommendation to treat meth users as “patients,” and another 9.8 % said they were against it, compared to 12.6 % who said they were largely in agreement with the policy and 9.8 % said they were a little bit in agreement.
When told that if they are considered people, they do not have to confront a prison term, 78.8 % said they did not agree at all and 7.7 % did not agree. Another 7.79 % agreed with the policy and 5.5 % said they somewhat agreed.
When questioned about how many meth pills can be used to classify someone as a patient, 59.8 % said they disagree, while 23.6 % said it should only be one ( anyone over the recommended dosage ) and 8.4 % said it should be two to three.
When asked why people take methamphetamine, 57.6 % said meth pills are easy to buy and 56.7 % said meth is cheap.
When asked why the problem is getting worse, 31.07 % of respondents said medicine suppression measures are ineffective, while 30.2 percent said the government guidelines are ineffective in tackling illicit drugs.
About 30 % said the government’s drug prevention measures are not good enough while 23 % said law enforcement was poor.
About 22 % of people said they used illicit drugs because of personal and social issues, while 20.7 % said the law that made five methamphetamine users counted as mere drug users is another factor.