Violent students have been a problem in Thai society for a long time. They hurt not only their rivals but also innocent people. Chiang Mai is one of provinces that have violent problems among teenagers. However, this problem has become less severe after senior gangsters have found a group called NDR (No Drug Rulers) to persuade young students to do good things. Grandma ‘Elle’ Laddawan Chainilpan, the leader of this group, set 8 basic rules for NDR’s teenagers to commit:
1.Don’t use drugs.
2.Avoid fighting with other groups.
3.Maintain unity within a group.
4.Junior members have to respect senior members.
5.Don't make noise to disturb neighbors.
6.Don’t carry any weapon.
7.Don’t have an affair among members within a group.
8.Don’t bring an outsider to get involved when a group has a dispute.
NDR has 32 sub-groups and 4,217 members brought into the group by their leaders. Some group leaders were then married or graduated, some worked in Chiang Mai or in other provinces, some became polices or soldiers. They usually pay visits to the group. Some groups are now dissolved such as a Yai Ka group, Serd Dan group, Lek Klang group, Wang Tan group, and Pra Ram 9 group.
NDR is greatly recognized by governmental units. For example, in 2001, NDR was awarded by The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) to organize a icebreaker activities for group leaders to understand their own and other people’s concepts, attitudes, and needs by using nature as a medium. This process focused on skills building of leaders in order to earn respect from society. In addition, some activities were also organized such as youth camps and football matches to tie the relations within a group and partly reduced violent habits.
In 2012, The Office of The Narcotics Control Board, upper northern branch, gave NDR scholarships and an opportunity to be an expert to talk to and advise youth. Ministry of Social Development and Human Security joined them to create a youth camp. And Chiang Mai City Municipality also organized a friendly football match with them.
However, NDR could not run their projects continuously as the budget they receive is usually on a project basis. As a result, they could not organize icebreaker activities for other new kids to build skills and develop capacities in order to live in society and end violent problems peacefully.