Drug abuse, prostitution still the country's woes

These facts were revealed in the agency's second quarterly report, for which a focus group was monitored from April to June on five dimensions, namely the quality of human resources, health and social security, the behaviour and well-being of citizens, the sexual behaviour of young people and the environment.

With regards to human resources, the report found that unemployment had dropped to 1.4 per cent both within and outside the agricultural sector.

Employment in the handicrafts industry, however, had risen to 1.5 per cent due to a dwindling in the labour-intensive industry.

In reference to health, the report showed that Thais needed to watch out for 11 types of infections and diseases. Also, according to data collected by the Public Health Ministry over the past decade, people aged between 15 and 24 were suffering from sexually transmitted diseases - a number that continues to rise. However, in terms of

social security, people's lives and property were more secure though drug abuse was becoming a severe problem.

He said, even prisoners had easy access to drugs.

On the other hand, injuries and deaths caused by road accidents had reduced due to the strict enforcement of traffic law. However, people were still breaking speed limits.

With regards to social behaviour and well being, the report showed that households were spending less on alcohol but more on cigarettes. However, alcoholism and consumption of cigarettes among young people was still on the rise. In addition, more and more teenagers were living together outside marriage.

The report also found that there are 48,000 people working in the sex industry, including students, of which 44.4 per cent were aged between 13 and 16.

About 60 per cent of the sex workers earned about Bt20,000 a month.

With regards to the environment, the report said the quality of air in many areas had improved but people in Bangkok, Saraburi and Chiang Mai were still breathing in small particles. In addition, some areas in Bangkok had high levels of ozone gas, while

almost every area in the capital was affected by noise pollution.