Photo of child using drugs angers Thailand

MUANG, Thailand, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- An investigation began after a photo of a child being taught to use drugs appeared on a Facebook page and Thai websites, a Thai police commissioner said.

Police Gen. Chamnan Ruadrew of Muang, who heads Thailand's Police Region 5, said he ordered the inquiry after the photograph of a girl about 3 years of age being shown by an adult how to use an illegal drug was widely circulated on the Internet. It made its first appearance Oct. 4 on a Facebook page, the Bangkok Post reported Friday.

The photo received negative reactions in comments on various websites, some questioning whether the adult was the child's parent and others suggesting the photo was inappropriate -- even if meant as a joke, the newspaper said.