The addiction rehabilitation center, Horizon Rehab Center, in collaboration with Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG), hosted a community educative seminar regarding Addiction Issues & Thailand’s Youth. The seminar aims to educate the youth, who will certainly go on to become the driving force of the country, regarding the danger and consequences that comes with the use of drugs. As well as providing advice for parents and family to find an efficient solution for major societal issues in Drug Addiction and Digital Addiction, which is becoming more and more severe
Mr. Craig Gagnon, Clinical Director of Horizon Rehab Center, revealed some fascinating facts that 1 in 9 youths, aged from 12-25 year old have had a history of drug abuse. In addition, Third Culture Kids, youth who grew up in a different culture from the norm, such as youth who relocate to Thailand with their parents, is another group that are at risk. Third Culture Kids could be more at risk from lack of intimacy and guidance as a result of parents who may spend much of their time at work, and also from relocation, which could mean a constant struggle with cultural differences, or an identity crisis. With all these possible risk factors, in combination with the curiosity that comes with their age, means Third Culture Kids can be prone to drug abuse and/or addition. Meanwhile, Digital Addiction is another issue that could significantly affects the youth, both in terms of Emotional Quotient (EQ), the ability to learn social skills in everyday’s life, as well as relationship with others, resulting in a long-term damage. Surveys has revealed a shocking result, finding that a youth addicted to smartphone could be as young as 2 years old.
“I hope that this seminar could help educate the youth, the parents, and the organizations involved in safeguarding the youth about the importance of issues that could arise from Drug Addiction and Digital Addiction. In order to put further emphasis on attending the youth’s behavior, staying on guard, and to develop high quality youths. This seminar is one of the visions of us at Horizon Rehab Center, which is to be the driving force that helps develop a safe, sustainable Thai society.
One of the Horizon Rehab Center Staff has also mentioned that Horizon Rehab Center was created in order to help those who struggle with different addiction issues, especially with drug addiction. “Drug abuse issue is not exclusive to just Thailand, but is a major problem in many countries around the globe as well. For example, the number of death as a result of drug overdose in the US in 2021 was over 170,000. Which, by the way, is 7.5 times increase from 2015 and are still rising every year. While in Thailand, 39% of 15-24 years old Thais has been found to be involved or use drugs in 2019, with over 2.7 million youth between the age of 15-19 that uses drug, and over 300,000 having to go through treatment for drug abuse in the same year. Along with drug addiction, there is also Process Addiction, which is a behavioral addiction, such as gambling addiction, gaming addiction, internet addiction, and digital addictions, which are now classified as disease by countries like South Korea or Japan”.
As for the center’s approach towards treatment, it will be a western style treatment, which have been through empirical studies and proved to be successful in practical treatment. “I want to thank Thonburi Healthcare Group for providing support for our center this whole time, especially in our center’s western style treatment approach that has been put to use overseas and was found to be successful. Not only would we help with physical recovery, but we also provide a psychological treatment to bring them back to normal life while maintaining their sobriety, with counselor’s, support worker’s, and specialist’s full attention along each step. Moreover, there will also be family plan with parents and family to create an aftercare plan and deepen their understanding of the client. We aim to create the best possible treatment program in Thailand.” Said the staff.
Mr. Craig Gagnon, Clinical Director of Horizon Rehab Center, revealed some fascinating facts that 1 in 9 youths, aged from 12-25 year old have had a history of drug abuse. In addition, Third Culture Kids, youth who grew up in a different culture from the norm, such as youth who relocate to Thailand with their parents, is another group that are at risk. Third Culture Kids could be more at risk from lack of intimacy and guidance as a result of parents who may spend much of their time at work, and also from relocation, which could mean a constant struggle with cultural differences, or an identity crisis. With all these possible risk factors, in combination with the curiosity that comes with their age, means Third Culture Kids can be prone to drug abuse and/or addition. Meanwhile, Digital Addiction is another issue that could significantly affects the youth, both in terms of Emotional Quotient (EQ), the ability to learn social skills in everyday’s life, as well as relationship with others, resulting in a long-term damage. Surveys has revealed a shocking result, finding that a youth addicted to smartphone could be as young as 2 years old.
“I hope that this seminar could help educate the youth, the parents, and the organizations involved in safeguarding the youth about the importance of issues that could arise from Drug Addiction and Digital Addiction. In order to put further emphasis on attending the youth’s behavior, staying on guard, and to develop high quality youths. This seminar is one of the visions of us at Horizon Rehab Center, which is to be the driving force that helps develop a safe, sustainable Thai society.
One of the Horizon Rehab Center Staff has also mentioned that Horizon Rehab Center was created in order to help those who struggle with different addiction issues, especially with drug addiction. “Drug abuse issue is not exclusive to just Thailand, but is a major problem in many countries around the globe as well. For example, the number of death as a result of drug overdose in the US in 2021 was over 170,000. Which, by the way, is 7.5 times increase from 2015 and are still rising every year. While in Thailand, 39% of 15-24 years old Thais has been found to be involved or use drugs in 2019, with over 2.7 million youth between the age of 15-19 that uses drug, and over 300,000 having to go through treatment for drug abuse in the same year. Along with drug addiction, there is also Process Addiction, which is a behavioral addiction, such as gambling addiction, gaming addiction, internet addiction, and digital addictions, which are now classified as disease by countries like South Korea or Japan”.
As for the center’s approach towards treatment, it will be a western style treatment, which have been through empirical studies and proved to be successful in practical treatment. “I want to thank Thonburi Healthcare Group for providing support for our center this whole time, especially in our center’s western style treatment approach that has been put to use overseas and was found to be successful. Not only would we help with physical recovery, but we also provide a psychological treatment to bring them back to normal life while maintaining their sobriety, with counselor’s, support worker’s, and specialist’s full attention along each step. Moreover, there will also be family plan with parents and family to create an aftercare plan and deepen their understanding of the client. We aim to create the best possible treatment program in Thailand.” Said the staff.
