Because "home" and "village" never turn their backs... opening the life story of an assistant village headman, when family encouragement blends with community opportunity, transforming him from a "substance user" into a trusted pillar for the villagers.
Giving former drug addicts a chance to rejoin society sometimes results not only in regaining community membership but also gaining quality personnel who help others and become key players in community development.
At Huai Nam Yen village, Mae Tun subdistrict, Mae Ramat district, Tak province. Sutath Kongsrikeeree. He currently serves as assistant village headman, actively advancing local development. But before reaching this point, Sutath struggled with substance addiction, attempting to quit several times unsuccessfully, yet his family never gave up on him, and the community embraced and trusted him when he left the drug cycle.
Sutath grew up in a financially strained family, working to help ease his parents' burdens and pay for his education. His first encounter with substances came at 17, during high school, driven by youthful curiosity, he tried taking drugs. “Ya Ba” (methamphetamine tablets). Along with friends, he found that using it made him feel energetic, so he began using it to boost his work stamina. Before long, he became addicted, and other substances followed, including opium, crystal meth, heroin, cannabis, 'see kun roy' (a local drug), and glue sniffing.
He admitted he was complacent then, telling himself he used drugs to work and make money, not realizing he was deeply addicted. At first, he could work longer hours from morning to evening, earning 1,000 to 2,000 baht daily. But as his dosage increased, his work efficiency declined, forcing him to take more drugs, and all his income went toward buying drugs.
“At that time, I had to work to support myself and buy mushrooms to resell. I would get up early to buy them and deliver in the evening, so I took Ya Ba to stay alert and not get tired. I was overconfident, thinking using once wouldn’t be a problem and that I wouldn’t get addicted and could quit anytime. At that time, I earned 30,000 to 40,000 baht monthly, but after addiction, no matter how much I earned, it was never enough. Everything I had, I sold to buy drugs.”
Sutath used drugs for nearly two years, secretly using alone in the forest. Although every two or three months he wanted to quit, after only 2–3 days without drugs, withdrawal symptoms forced him back to use. He couldn't work without drugs, trapped in a never-ending cycle.
His lowest point came when he had no money or possessions left. He had to ask his grandmother for money to buy drugs, and she pityingly gave it each time. With parents by his side and a girlfriend hoping to build a family, one day he realized he could not continue living like this.
“I thought I was born for my parents to have a good child. If I could quit drugs, I could take care of them. When I was using drugs, I never thought about having a girlfriend or getting married. Having a girlfriend made me think more and feel more responsible. Later, having children made me realize I needed to earn money to support them, and if they wanted to continue studying, expenses would increase.”
During that time, Sutath gradually reduced his drug use until a friend invited him to volunteer to help other substance users. At first, he thought he was being deceived because he didn't believe anyone would employ a drug user. However, accepting this role became a turning point that allowed him to decisively leave the drug cycle.
“As a volunteer, I attended training and seminars, went to Bangkok, and flew on a plane for the first time. I saw new things and felt happier than using drugs alone in the forest. Returning home, I decisively decided to quit drugs.”
Not only did his family continue to encourage and support him, but the community also embraced him when he stepped out of the drug cycle.
After quitting drugs, Sutath continued as a volunteer with the Give Hope group, helping other substance users in the community, following the Harm Reduction approach, including distributing clean needles and providing methadone substitution treatment, believing that every user wants to quit but the process is often too difficult to do alone. Without encouragement, users neglected or abandoned tend to sink deeper into addiction.
“Because I am one who used drugs before, I boldly say that if you ask any user whether they wanted to grow up to be drug users as children, none would say yes. They wanted to be teachers or doctors. But due to various events or factors leading to that point, recovery is very difficult. Family is truly important. If children, wives, or parents encourage, I believe they can overcome this.”
Beyond caring for substance users, Sutath increasingly took on community roles. He started as a village health volunteer, then was trusted as chairman of the village fund managing millions of baht, and later was elected assistant village headman.
Though holding multiple roles, Sutath never quit volunteering to help substance users. Besides outreach, advice, and methadone referrals, he also creates opportunities and jobs, trusting that those helped will not waste the chance.
“They came asking if I could invest for them, as their families doubted and feared losing money. I told them, ‘I believe in you. I used drugs before; if I can do it, you can too.’ I invested about 30,000 baht for them. They earned 200,000 baht profit from farming and returned the capital. Today, they have quit using substances.”
In the eyes of his supervisor, Kamnan Lee (Village Chief) Weerawut Maimong, Kamnan of Mae Tun subdistrict, Sutath is a key community figure. Kamnan Lee has known him since childhood, heard of his struggles, but ultimately saw him return as a leader the villagers rely on. He is enthusiastic about work and often consults with the chief on solving community problems.
Top Prommin Kittikhunprasert, director of the Give Hope group, a civil society organization working to find and help substance users enter treatment, shared the story after their team reached Sutath, who was then a user with strong determination to quit.
The group saw his potential for self-change, inviting him to work as an assistant field officer. Today, Sutath has helped more than 70–80 substance users.
Simultaneously, his community role has grown, being accepted as assistant village headman, reflecting that substance users who receive opportunity and have the will to change are no different from others and can become good, capable people who help others.
“Today, Sutath holds many roles and is a person with great potential. From a drug user to someone recognized by the community through the Harm Reduction process that enabled his transformation.”
Although Harm Reduction has helped Sutath and many others leave the drug cycle, misunderstandings remain, such as whether providing clean needles encourages new injectors, or methadone being viewed by some as a new drug and doubted as effective treatment.
Kamnan Lee shared that even some supervisors once held such views, perhaps due to lack of understanding of Harm Reduction. Distributing clean needles prevents disease spread and ultimately reduces public health costs.
For Tak province, it is considered a “red zone” with severe drug trafficking and use. The origins of substance use partly relate to geographical factors: highland border areas far from medical services where opium was historically grown as traditional medicine, and without strict laws then, heavy use for treatment led to addiction.
Today, opium use has declined, lingering mostly among older or middle-aged groups, but newer drugs and consumption methods have emerged, bringing other problems, especially mental health issues.
“Most opium cultivation was for personal use or small village sales at very low prices, with no serious crime. Some theft occurred but remained controllable by community leaders. Recently, there has been a rise in suicides, ranking high in the province.”
Give Hope’s data aligns with this. Prommin believes geographical and lifestyle factors strongly affect use. In the past, addiction was linked to medicine belief, but now with better healthcare access, use often starts from curiosity, peer influence, or to boost work stamina or relieve fatigue.
“Many laborers addicted to Ya Ba or crystal meth, stimulants, do heavy work like carrying wood or cutting corn, which is typical local life. Some use substances to have energy for more jobs, work longer, and earn more wages.”
Over the past decade in Tak, the drug situation has not changed drastically. Stimulants most used remain Ya Ba and crystal meth, while depressants shifted from opium to heroin.
Concerns differ by drug type. Injecting users, such as opium or heroin users, face risks of infections like hepatitis C or HIV, especially if lacking access to clean equipment. Stimulant users risk hallucinations and psychiatric disorders, with this group growing significantly.
Maintaining physical and mental health of substance users so they stay strong, feel valued, and have choices is vital. Harm Reduction functions to save lives by treating all equally and recognizing everyone’s right to help.
Prommin highlights that Harm Reduction works flexibly with users, not just enforcing laws as the old approach that “drug users must quit completely.” This led to harsh measures like forced treatment and arrests, which have proven ineffective, as statistics show drug users increase yearly.
Harm Reduction offers options and solutions to those willing, believing anyone can change if given appropriate opportunities, starting with education, service guidance, and providing necessary tools to reduce harm, allowing them to survive and gradually modify behavior.
“Many think addiction means you can quit anytime, but actually it’s a physical and psychological dependency. When someone tries to quit alone, withdrawal symptoms can be severe, leading to failure. Some intend to quit but relapse to ease symptoms. Harm Reduction provides alternatives and substitutes so those wanting to quit can succeed more easily.”
Prommin described Give Hope’s civil society work to fill gaps in locating users and working within communities with understanding, coordinating with health sectors for substitution treatment and rehabilitation.
Local authorities, including community leaders, village chiefs, law enforcers, and policymakers should show understanding and flexibility in enforcing laws, shifting from only suppression to also providing information, advice, motivation, and encouragement.
“These are part of harm reduction too, because if users feel worthless and unvalued by the community, but community leaders show empathy, it empowers them to change and feel they can live with dignity. For law enforcers, if someone intends to seek treatment but is arrested en route, they won’t dare try again.”
From the perspective of Kamnan Lee, the community plays a crucial role in Harm Reduction, which is more effective than forced institutional treatment. Huai Nam Yen village is a good example of unity and acceptance, allowing recovering users to live alongside the community.
“Encouragement and opportunity are key factors that give them strength to move forward. I see the unity of Huai Nam Yen village in caring for patients going for methadone, with health volunteers and community leaders accompanying and supporting them. I always remind them to follow up if anyone misses appointments due to problems, to help the doctors and support each other, as they are important contributors to village development in various ways.”
Likewise, Sutath, as assistant village headman and former substance user, believes that hope and opportunity are crucial, as proven by himself and those he helps who are alive and thriving.
“It’s truly evident, as I am one who used drugs and quit successfully and have helped many lives and families change. Sometimes just by helping them farm, giving advice and hope, and ultimately when given the chance, they quit on their own.”
