‘2 meth pills = jail’: Thailand’s new anti-drugs push may ruin more lives than it saves

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World

 

Statistics show that hundreds of thousands of Thais risk going to jail if a draft ministerial regulation supporting Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s so-called war on drugs is enacted.

 

The draft regulation, which classifies anybody caught with two or more methamphetamine pills as a drug trafficker, was completed on February 2. Anutin, who is also deputy prime minister, is keen to present it to Cabinet very soon.

 

“Illegal drugs are a big problem. We need to tackle it with strong laws,” the minister said.

 

Anutin’s stance, however, has raised concerns that the much-tougher regulation will likely push more drug users into Thailand’s already chronically overcrowded prisons and give rise to many more problems later.

 

Currently, people caught with up to 15 methamphetamine pills do not face legal action if they agree to enter a drug rehabilitation program. Such leniency is offered through a narcotics law that went into effect in late 2021.

 

Anutin, however, believes it is time this approach was changed.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/2-meth-pills-jail-thailands-new-anti-drugs-push-may-ruin-more-lives-than-it-saves/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-02-15

 

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[sungod]

Just pushing everyone towards puff (which he controls)

[BananaStrong]

I disagree.  NOT all drugs are good.  Meth is one that is evil in every way (OK, I'm slightly guessing and I'm not a Breaking Bad chemist, but it's a good guess).

 

so anyone with even one pill needs punishment.   jail is fine, build more jails.   

 

there must be some things in life where there is ZERO leeway.  Meth should be one.   Many other drugs, probably not zero.....but Meth, zero.

 

unless someone throws a pill in my bag, then I'll vote for 100 pills.   this might happen, just like those weird bullet(s) that end up luggage.  

[ChaiyaTH]

Makes it very easy to setup people in a horrible way aside of the fact that a real junkie would always need 2 or more, unless dealers are always available and nearby.

[Deserted]

The new law won't achieve anything. They should focus more on stopping drugs coming into their own country and target the source, that would be more effective but that does mean more work from the government though.

[Dogmatix]

1 hour ago, BananaStrong said:

I disagree.  NOT all drugs are good.  Meth is one that is evil in every way (OK, I'm slightly guessing and I'm not a Breaking Bad chemist, but it's a good guess).

 

so anyone with even one pill needs punishment.   jail is fine, build more jails.   

 

there must be some things in life where there is ZERO leeway.  Meth should be one.   Many other drugs, probably not zero.....but Meth, zero.

 

unless someone throws a pill in my bag, then I'll vote for 100 pills.   this might happen, just like those weird bullet(s) that end up luggage.  

Or like those meth pills that cops slip into your vehicle while searching it at a road block on a dark night.

[Dogmatix]

This obvious posturing for political brownie points by Anutin to make himself look tough on drugs after legalizing “medical” marijuana - wink wink. 
 

Sadly his political gambit will come at the cost of thousands of families whose lives will be ruined due to a family member getting jailed for a petty offense. 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s so-called war on drugs

How can it be called a war on drugs when he keeps legalising them?

[huangnon]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Makes it very easy to setup people in a horrible way aside of the fact that a real junkie would always need 2 or more, unless dealers are always available and nearby.

Exactly. Anutin throwing a bone to the BIB to write their own checks for this BS law.

 

Where is the political will to go after the big producers and money launderers? ???? Oh, wait!

[steven100]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Illegal drugs are a big problem. We need to tackle it with strong laws,”

For once he said something that make sense .....

[expatocean]

4 hours ago, BananaStrong said:

I disagree.  NOT all drugs are good.  Meth is one that is evil in every way (OK, I'm slightly guessing and I'm not a Breaking Bad chemist, but it's a good guess).

 

so anyone with even one pill needs punishment.   jail is fine, build more jails.   

 

there must be some things in life where there is ZERO leeway.  Meth should be one.   Many other drugs, probably not zero.....but Meth, zero.

 

unless someone throws a pill in my bag, then I'll vote for 100 pills.   this might happen, just like those weird bullet(s) that end up luggage.  

What a sad view on life you have luckily I don't have to associate with people like you !!!!!

[expatocean]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

How can it be called a war on drugs when he keeps legalising them?

Wow some people are literally so stuck in there ways they still can't get over the fact that cannabis has benefits  to health the environment and many other aspects of life including poverty but haho no one cares about dinosaurs opinions any more it's legal and nothing you can do about it but moan on a expats forum!!!!!

[spidermike007]

I don't condone the use of meth, but labeling someone as a dealer for the possession of two pills is insane, unreasonable, juvenile, overly puritanical, and moving society backwards. Anutin is showing his true colors. 

 

Don't be like Singapore, but or the dismal Saudis. Backwards, medieval laws are not becoming of a nation that is pretending to be developed. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Statistics show that hundreds of thousands of Thais risk going to jail if a draft ministerial regulation supporting Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s so-called war on drugs is enacted.

Anutins war on drugs laughable.

[Davedub]

Meth is nasty stuff and the harm it causes needs to be curbed for sure. However, prohibition has been shown time and again not to work.

Without fail, history has taught us that prohibition simply funnels vast sums of money to criminal organisations like the mafia and the drug cartels of S. America - without any discernable effect on the supply of drugs. In the 50+ years since Nixon announced his 'war on drugs', drug harm has increased exponentially - fact.

 

Anybody who is sound of mind has no interest in making a mess of themselves and their lives. People find themselves in a drug-induced mess for one of two reasons; they either didn't know what they were getting themselves into (lack of education) or they could see no other way to numb their pain (lack of mental healthcare). Education and mental healthcare are only the proven ways forwards for reducing drug harm - fact.

 

Stiffer penalties for end users will cause more harm than good, for certain; wrecking families, depriving households of breadwinners, filling up already overcrowded jails all whilst giving yet more opportunity for police corruption. Are they seriously proposing this as some sort of magic bullet to the ever growing meth abuse problem?

Dinosaurs do what dinosaurs do I guess - a predilection for spouting ill-considered, discompassionate, reactive nonsense coupled with having no handle on the reality people actually live with is their nature, as is borne out by announcements like this.

[Joe Farang]

It's just opening up a revenue stream for the BIB, as Tourist gouging is becoming a hot potato

 

"Anutin said police officers will be able to exercise discretion when determining the intention of suspects."

[zzaa09]

42 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't condone the use of meth, but labeling someone as a dealer for the possession of two pills is insane, unreasonable, juvenile, overly puritanical, and moving society backwards. Anutin is showing his true colors. 

 

Don't be like Singapore, but or the dismal Saudis. Backwards, medieval laws are not becoming of a nation that is pretending to be developed. 

One needs to deeply look into the rhymes and reasons on the origins of this inane War On Some Drugs and you'll find that it's just part and parcel to the generalized racket that was set forth. 

[sidneybear]

7 hours ago, BananaStrong said:

I disagree.  NOT all drugs are good.  Meth is one that is evil in every way (OK, I'm slightly guessing and I'm not a Breaking Bad chemist, but it's a good guess).

 

so anyone with even one pill needs punishment.   jail is fine, build more jails.   

 

there must be some things in life where there is ZERO leeway.  Meth should be one.   Many other drugs, probably not zero.....but Meth, zero.

 

unless someone throws a pill in my bag, then I'll vote for 100 pills.   this might happen, just like those weird bullet(s) that end up luggage.  

Meth is ghastly. It nearly killed a friend of mine, and it's right that they should get rid of it.

[jingjai9]

The crackdown mentality or war on drugs theme translates to: "We don't know what else to do so let's make a show of it. This tactic comes complete with photo opps and tons of publicity which gives the appearance the police are doing their job. America's war on drugs ended up giving the good old US of A the dubious distinction of having the highest incarceration rate (number of people incarcerated as a proportion of its total population.) in the world. Not to mention all those exciting police shows and movies.

 

How effective are Thailand's rehabilitation programs? Is it a true program that runs a course, or is it a just show up and you get the certificate affair? What is Thailand's success rate with their rehab programs? Did Thailand develop its own programs or are they adapted from another country. 

 

I would venture to guess the rehab programs are not working if the Thai government wants to resort to such severe penalties for two pills. Do crackdowns ever serve to solve problems such as drug abuse? Is drug abuse a psychological problem or can you possibly arrest you way out of it?

Taking a good, hard luck at Thailand's rehab programs may be the place to start.

 

[Thingamabob]

The so-called war on drugs has not achieved anything anywhere. A total waste of time and money. Control through licensing is the way to go. It won't be perfect, just consider how many people die from drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, but it would be a darn sight better than the current shambles.

[decline]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Currently, people caught with up to 15 methamphetamine pills do not face legal action if they agree to enter a drug rehabilitation program. Such leniency is offered through a narcotics law that went into effect in late 2021.

does this apply to aliens?

[Yorkshire Tea]

A "War on Pollution" would be better than a war on drugs.  

[d4dang]

12 hours ago, Davedub said:

Meth is nasty stuff and the harm it causes needs to be curbed for sure. However, prohibition has been shown time and again not to work.

Without fail, history has taught us that prohibition simply funnels vast sums of money to criminal organisations like the mafia and the drug cartels of S. America - without any discernable effect on the supply of drugs. In the 50+ years since Nixon announced his 'war on drugs', drug harm has increased exponentially - fact.

 

Anybody who is sound of mind has no interest in making a mess of themselves and their lives. People find themselves in a drug-induced mess for one of two reasons; they either didn't know what they were getting themselves into (lack of education) or they could see no other way to numb their pain (lack of mental healthcare). Education and mental healthcare are only the proven ways forwards for reducing drug harm - fact.

 

Stiffer penalties for end users will cause more harm than good, for certain; wrecking families, depriving households of breadwinners, filling up already overcrowded jails all whilst giving yet more opportunity for police corruption. Are they seriously proposing this as some sort of magic bullet to the ever growing meth abuse problem?

Dinosaurs do what dinosaurs do I guess - a predilection for spouting ill-considered, discompassionate, reactive nonsense coupled with having no handle on the reality people actually live with is their nature, as is borne out by announcements like this.

take the money out of the narcotics industry and the traffickers will have to find another line of work...do the math

[Pedrogaz]

Total stupidity. The war on drugs has failed and has ruined more lives than it has saved.