An integrated approach to drug problem solving by the Chiang Mai Provincial Command Center for Drug Prevention and Suppression

A case study of the “Happiness for People” Project in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research aims to study the integration guidelines of government agencies in solving narcotics problems under the "Area-Based Problem Solving Project to Bring Happiness to the People of Chiang Mai Province". Due to the severe escalation of drug smuggling in the upper northern region, the government urgently implemented the "Thawangpha Model" and "Thawat Buri Model" to screen the area and treat drug addicts. This study objectives are to deeply analyze, evaluate the current situation, and propose an effective integration model using the frameworks of Public Policy, New Public Management (NPM), Actor-Network Theory (ANT), and Street-Level Bureaucrats. The preliminary findings indicate structural obstacles regarding unclear roles and the lack of permanent coordination mechanisms. Sustainable solutions require decentralizing power to street-level bureaucrats, strengthening community networks, and utilizing Community-Based Treatment (CBTx) alongside stable career development to reduce recidivism rates and genuinely improve citizens' quality of life.