According to the Assumption University Poll released on may 10, 2006, forty percent of young Thai people will have used an addictive substance by the time they are 24 years old. The survey examines the abuse of addictive substances, including alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine, wine coolers, and cocktails (alcoholic mixed drinks) and cigarettes, among Thai youths between 12 and 24 years old who live in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakarn and Pathumthani. These substances remain the most popular choices of Thai youths. Surprisingly, many of them do not think that the substances are addcitive.
Responding to the poll results, Dr Suchart, a psychiatrist who specialises in drug abuse treatment at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, says that in fact, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are a threshold to using illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana and others.