Phuket - A prescription for injustice

[Benny10]

Phuket OPINION: A prescription for injustice

 

Is it really fair to allow drug stores to sell prescription drugs over the counter – and then arrest the tourists who buy them?

 

PHUKET: The arrest of a 17-year-old New Zealander for possession of diazepam without a prescription last month (see news pages) raises serious questions about the consistency of law enforcement in Phuket.

 

The facts of the case are pretty clear. The teenager admits to buying the pills. And he admits he had no prescription for them.

 

The Psychotropic Substances Act of 1974 makes it illegal to possess diazepam – and a whole host of other ‘Schedule IV’ drugs – without a doctor’s written permission.

 

The officers who arrested him were just doing their job. Right?

 

Well, when the case is viewed in isolation, the answer has to be ‘yes’.

 

But ‘isolation’ is a good word here, because this was the only case of prosecution for diazepam possession in 2009.

 

Phuket Provincial Police statistics show the island’s cops seized a grand total of nine diazepam pills last year – the nine the young Kiwi was caught with.

 

They also confiscated 253 pills and 8 grams of alprazolam (trade name Xanax) in 18 cases over the same year.

 

But despite this smattering of arrests, you’d be forgiven for thinking possession of these drugs – and others such as erectile dysfunction treatments like Viagra and Cialis – without a prescription is legal.

 

Pharmacists across the west coast of the island are more than happy to sell them to tourists, prescription or no. The only documentation required is issued by the Royal Thai Mint. That this happens is well known to the authorities.

 

Indeed, a high-ranking source in the Phuket Public Health Office admitted his department allowed pharmacies to sell the drugs, albeit only in small quantities.

 

The regulations could be enforced if the will existed. Most Phuket Town pharmacies, or those in other areas where tourists are scarce, are scrupulous in their adherence to the law.

 

It seems the availability of these drugs serves to cement Phuket’s reputation as a haven for those seeking pleasure, along with the widespread availability of certain other ‘services’ that are also technically illegal.

 

But is it right to make prescription drugs so easily available as to appear legal – and then arrest tourists who buy them?

 

Of course it’s also notable that in the case of the 17-year-old Kiwi, no pharmacist has been arrested for selling the drugs.

 

In a complex world, joined-up government might be an impossible dream. But in this case it appears that one hand is dishing out prescription drugs – while the other is slapping handcuffs on the wrists of those who buy them.

 

 

Brought by Phuket Gazette on Sunday, January 24, 2010, 11:39 local time

See the full story here.

[cheang]

Frankly, with the Thai view on drugs, why would you not go get a prescription from a doctor if you needed the drugs. The cost of an office visit to get the prescription will be alot less than any interaction with BIB. Getting prescription drugs without a prescription leaves you open to accusal as a drug dealer----- very bad news!

[turock1000]

It was only last week i purchased valium from a pharmacy on bangla road with no problems, just wanted it to help sleep on the plane home. Had it in my wallet going through customs and also had no problems and no questions asked.

 

I think you must just be really unlucky!!!! to ever get charged for having it

[gogo dog]

Frankly, with the Thai view on drugs, why would you not go get a prescription from a doctor if you needed the drugs. The cost of an office visit to get the prescription will be alot less than any interaction with BIB. Getting prescription drugs without a prescription leaves you open to accusal as a drug dealer----- very bad news!

 

How is an inexperienced or first time traveller expected to know that some pills bought from what appears to be a legitimate pharmacy are going to land him in jail? Surely the pharmacist is the one that should be locked away. It could even have been the pharmacy that tipped off the BiB. Seems Thaland is hell bent on destroying its tourist cash cow.