Application of Buddhist Principles for Preventing and Resolving Drug Problems by Community Committees in Khon Kaen Municipality, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This article aims to (1) examine the level of drug prevention and suppression efforts carried out by community committees in the Khon Kaen Municipality, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province; (2) investigate the relationship between the Four Iddhipāda (Path of Accomplishment) Buddhist principles and the community committees’ operations in addressing drug problems; and (3) explore the application of the Four Iddhipāda principles in the drug prevention and resolution process. A mixed-methods approach combining both quantitative and qualitative research was employed. The quantitative component used a questionnaire to collect data from 282 community committee members, analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, along with inferential statistics. The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews with 15 key informants, with data analyzed using descriptive content analysis.

The findings revealed that the overall level of drug prevention and resolution operations by the community committees was high, particularly in the areas of monitoring and evaluation. Moreover, there was a statistically significant and strong positive correlation between the Four Iddhipāda principles and the community committees’ operations (r = 0.85, p < 0.01), indicating that adherence to Buddhist principles can serve as a powerful mechanism for effective social action. In terms of practical application, the study found that community committees effectively utilized the principles of chanda (desire to do good), viriya (effort), citta (attention), and vimaṃsā (investigation) to foster motivation, strengthen morale, promote collaboration, and engage in systematic planning for sustainable drug problem resolution. These results highlight the role of Buddhist teachings in enhancing community resilience and provide a practical framework for grassroots social development in Thai society.