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BMC International Health and Human Rights
Published in: BMC International Health and Human Rights 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research article

Reports of evidence planting by police among a community-based sample of injection drug users in Bangkok, Thailand

Authors: Nadia Fairbairn, Karyn Kaplan, Kanna Hayashi, Paisan Suwannawong, Calvin Lai, Evan Wood, Thomas Kerr

Published in: BMC International Health and Human Rights | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

Drug policy in Thailand has relied heavily on law enforcement-based approaches. Qualitative reports indicate that police in Thailand have resorted to planting drugs on suspected drug users to extort money or provide grounds for arrest. The present study sought to describe the prevalence and factors associated with this form of evidence planting by police among injection drug users (IDU) in Bangkok.

Methods

Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with evidence planting of drugs by police among a community-based sample of IDU in Bangkok. We also examined the prevalence and average amount of money paid by IDU to police in order to avoid arrest.

Results

252 IDU were recruited between July and August, 2008, among whom 66 (26.2%) were female and the median age was 36.5 years. In total, 122 (48.4%) participants reported having drugs planted on them by police. In multivariate analyses, this form of evidence planting was positively associated with midazolam use (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.84; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.58 - 5.11), recent non-fatal overdose (AOR = 2.56; 95%CI: 1.40 - 4.66), syringe lending (AOR = 2.08; 95%CI: 1.19 - 3.66), and forced drug treatment (AOR = 1.88; 95%CI: 1.05 - 3.36). Among those who reported having drugs planted on them, 59 (48.3%) paid police a bribe in order to avoid arrest.

Conclusion

A high proportion of community-recruited IDU participating in this study reported having drugs planted on them by police. Drug planting was found to be associated with numerous risk factors including syringe sharing and participation in government-run drug treatment programs. Immediate action should be taken to address this form of abuse of power reportedly used by police.
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Metadata
Title
Reports of evidence planting by police among a community-based sample of injection drug users in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors
Nadia Fairbairn
Karyn Kaplan
Kanna Hayashi
Paisan Suwannawong
Calvin Lai
Evan Wood
Thomas Kerr
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC International Health and Human Rights / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1472-698X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-698X-9-24

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