Social Control for Drugs Prevention: A Case Study on The Mother of The Nation’s Fund Communities, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to explore the meaning, characteristics, forms, activities, or measures of social control, as well as to study the patterns of social control in the prevention and resolution of drug problems in Mother of The Nation Fund Communities, Chiang Rai Province. The research used a qualitative approach, with key informants, namely members of the village committee of Mother of The Nation Fund Communities, Chiang Rai Province and four members from each of the four communities, Who played significant roles in preventing and solving drug issues. The study concluded that the concept of social control in drug prevention and resolution referred to social control as a key mechanism in managing drug-related problems. This process focused on controlling the behavior of community members in order to be in line with appropriate norms. This included both formal and informal social control. Formal control involves law enforcement and the judicial process to punish offenders, while informal control involves instilling correct values from a young age through family, community, and religious institutions. From the study, it was found that there were 21 forms of social control. Additionally, the research highlighted six key characteristics of social control in Mother of The Nation Fund Communities, Chiang Rai Province. These processes were crucial for fostering collaboration between the government, community, and families, in order to prevent drug use, raise awareness of its impacts, and provide opportunities for former addicts to reintegrate into society sustainably.