I. Summary of findings

Thailand has well-developed drug control programmes and a great deal of experience in HIV/AIDS prevention and control. However, at present there is little dialogue or collaboration between the two sectors.

There are few if any impediments in Thailand that would inhibit more and better provisions for the prevention of HIV/AIDS among drug users. It is noteworthy that in Thailand:

· The overall approach to drug demand reduction is pragmatic

· Drug users are generally sent to treatment and not to prison and are regarded more as patients than as criminals

· Methadone maintenance is available albeit limited in scope at the Bangkok Metropolitan Clinics

· Although needle and syringe exchanges schemes are not available, there is no shortage of syringes to buy.

There is a great deal of expertise in the country in treatment and prevention methods.

Outreach and peer approaches are widely used in HIV/AIDS prevention (though not at present in the drug field).

Thailand has considerable research and evaluation capabilities and considerable human resources. These could be used more effectively to study the drug demand problems and to improve interventions.