Self-Defense Behaviors from Drugs of Students at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok

Abstract

The purposes of this research was to examine level of knowledge and understanding on drug abuse and their behavior for self-defense against drug addiction of students at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok. The sample group was 400 students, enrolled in certificate program and the bachelor program during the first semester of 2011 academic year at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok. Data gathering tools were questionnaires. The percentile,mean,standard deviation were used for data analysis. The findings of this research were as follow : 1. The results of examination on level of knowledge and understanding on drug abuse projected that the majority of sample group attained their knowledge on drug abuse repectively through 3 types of medias, which are radio/TV, Internet and newspapers. Most known drugs among the sample were speed drug (amphetamine), marijuana and Grathom (Mitragyna Speciosa Korth). Despite their uncertainty, the majority of samples presumed that speed drug (amphetamine), marijuana and Grathom (Mitragyna Speciosa Korth) would most likely be abused within their residing communities. All sample had never been persuaded to try any drug and majority of them didn’t know whether any of their friends addicted to drug. Some-who had friends addicted to drug-knew that their friends mostly took drug through inhaling method and addiction mostly caused by the trying out of curiosity. All samples agreed that it was not true to think drug could help enhancing one’s learning competency, and they thought drug did more harm to them instead. They reported there were government agencies went to inform about drug and did the drug search within their residing communities. 2. The results of investigation on their behaviors for self-defense against drug addiction showed that, in overall, the respondents used mostly all strategies to avoid drug addiction. When examine item by item, the most employed behavior for self-defense against drug addiction, even though living in the area where drug addiction was prevalent, was never ever to try or expose oneself to drug. The reasons that respondent tried to avoid using drug or refused drug that offered by friends were; not wanting to disappoint or upset their family members, fear of rejection by family members, afraid of being arrested by the police, afraid of losing their educational opportunity and ruining their future respectively. Students therefore defended themselves against drug addiction by refusing to try all drugs. Besides this, the knowledge about the danger and the harm of drugs persuaded them to stay away from drugs.