What can/should be done about the yaba crisis in Thailand?

[jvs]

I am reading and watching a lot of info about what yaba is doing to Thailand.

I believe it is turning into a real crisis and people are effected for the rest of their lives and not in a good way.

Stronger punishment?More understanding and more open dialogue?

Using this stuff is very dangerous and can not/should not even be compared to the use of alcohol or ganja.

A lost generation?Some people even proposing to let people off the hook when they carry no more then five pills.

It is cheaper than alcohol and available any where.

Is the government fishing behind the net?

I think a lot of this stuff comes from a country to the west and the profits are used for the war there.

I have been told that once you get hooked it is very hard to go clean again.

Any ideas out there?

[theblether]

Fundamentally, nothing can be done. I was at a Lahu New Year party a few years ago, two days later two of the guys at the party were shot dead by police as they were caught in the act of running yaba. I point out Lahu as I know Thais who have been arrested for the same crime and jailed without the risk of a gun to the head. In fact, one Thai I know is in for his second offence after receiving a pardon first time round. 

 

Lesson 1 - if you ain't Thai and your caught involved in this trade you're risking instant death. You really don't want to encounter Thai border guards anywhere near the Myanmar border.  

Lesson 2 - the level of stupidity and desperation involved to be caught running again not long after a pardon should show you the level of desperado involved. 

 

I've watched Thai police kick the living daylights out of Thais suspected of being involved ( aka they were involved ). The kicking was a warning and I'm not going into detail except to say I wasn't the only person watching. It was authorised from on high. 

 

Usage - I keep saying it on this forum and it's not sinking in with many members. The fastest road to the sex trade is to be a yaba user in the village. You will be excommunicated. Over the years I've seen several women hanging around bars who are severely rattling. I've seen bar owners melt down in a few short weeks as they get dragged into the late night sub culture. To be fair, I have seen people recover but once that drug is in your system relapse is easy. 

 

You mention stricter punishment. In a country where the death penalty is still force for drug running, what stricter penalty do you suggest? 

 

It's a sexual drug. Vulnerable ( aka often drunk ) women are either spiked or encouraged to try. They guys involved know what they are doing, they'd never dare try it on with the "protected" girls. It's fundamentally "low-life" city and rural youngsters at high risk. Although the net can reach upwards at times. One sometime PG I know got hooked, and was jailed three times for minor possession, then eventually put effective under house arrest with her parents. This decent looking but known wild-child type was reduced to turning tricks for 500 baht before her father in particular put the hammer down. By the way, she's now a single mother, father unknown. 

 

In the sex trade, you know that old saying that nothing good happens after 2am? Some of the activities would make any slumdogs skin crawl and it's yaba at the heart of it. It cannot be controlled, it cannot be stopped, it will burn like wildfire until it's target market is wiped out. So let me finish with the saddest story I know. My female pals sister was jailed as her front door was kicked in by police who knew her bf was a dealer. She was clean when arrested, but jailed for dealing. A year later they both got out, her head was destroyed by the prison experience. She left prison, got back with the guy then started smashing yaba. 

 

A chaotic year later, now with a weeks old baby ( gawd knows how much yaba flowed through that wee one's veins ) she drank battery acid in desperation at her addiction. She lived for a week in intensive care then died. Tne coward of a father fled to the monkhood, abandoning the baby who was then delivered to the elderly parents door. My pal had to take on an extra job to pay all the expenses. I don't know how the kid is doing now. 

 

Yaba is the devil. You'll never be rid of it. Never. Drinking battery acid to escape it's grip? dear me - it's the devil indeed. 

[sammieuk1]

Stop the police from selling it? they need a ruthless clearout of all jokes on elephants I'm guessing  🤔

[pasathai]

intercept it, poison it , put it back on the streets 

[OneMoreFarang]

13 minutes ago, pasathai said:

intercept it, poison it , put it back on the streets 

That is one of the problems. It is poison, and because it is unregulated it is often different poison. That makes it worse.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, jvs said:

I have been told that once you get hooked it is very hard to go clean again.

I know multiple Thais who used it, sometimes for years, and later stopped using it.

I think drugs are often a question of the environment. If "everybody" around you takes x, then you take x, and it is very hard to stop.

If you are lucky enough to get out of that environment then there is hope.

 

This is, or at least was, a good option: Official Wat Thamkrabok Homepage (wat-thamkrabok.org)

[AndyAndyAndy]

Pump up the prices.

 

When there's a drug on the market that cost 30 - 50 - 80 Baht (or what ever) a hit, then it is a problem. Because 99% of population can afford be high all day everyday. Pump it up to 500 / 1000 Baht a hit and problem will be gone.

 

So focus on related corruption, trafficking etc. etc. etc. to pump up the price.

[proton]

Never come across it, where to buy?

[Caldera]

The answer is, as always, to legalize it. Invest in education rather than in futile suppression.

 

Yes, I'm aware that it's evil stuff. And still, suppression has been a complete failure, it's cheaper and more widespread now than ever before. Educate more people about the dangers and give them more opportunities in life.

[OneMoreFarang]

37 minutes ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

Pump up the prices.

 

When there's a drug on the market that cost 30 - 50 - 80 Baht (or what ever) a hit, then it is a problem. Because 99% of population can afford be high all day everyday. Pump it up to 500 / 1000 Baht a hit and problem will be gone.

 

So focus on related corruption, trafficking etc. etc. etc. to pump up the price.

That reminds me of an interview about a retired drug police officer in the UK.

The police just confiscated a huge amount of drugs (I think it was cocaine) and the reporter asked what will be the consequences.

The retired drug police officer replied: The price will go up. And for that reason there will be more crimes from people who need more money to buy the drugs. Not much else will change.

So much about that.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, Caldera said:

The answer is, as always, to legalize it. Invest in education rather than in futile suppression.

 

Yes, I'm aware that it's evil stuff. And still, suppression has been a complete failure, it's cheaper and more widespread now than ever before. Educate more people about the dangers and give them more opportunities in life.

I agree.

But one important part is legalize it and make sure to tell people it is bad and help them if they need it.

The recent Thai legalization of weed is a good example how not to do it. Having lots of shops everywhere who advertise weed is certainly not the way to go.

 

The very recent way how Germany implemented this is, IMHO, a good controlled way. 

[JackGats]

Why can't the Burmese manufacture xstasy instead? Xstasy: there, at least, is a drug that has something to it.

 

Yaba is zero euphoria. Sky-high blood-pressure. Sleeplessnes. Meth dick.

 

Of course xstasy has low addiction potential.

 

One consequence of the war on drugs is that the lousier a drug, the more widespread it gets.

[gargamon]

32 minutes ago, JackGats said:

Why can't the Burmese manufacture xstasy instead? Xstasy: there, at least, is a drug that has something to it.

 

Because yaba (crystal meth) is addictive and extasy isn't. Grow your market.

[doosyhindleg]

People need to understand that Yaba is a far less destructive drug than Alcohol!

With knowledge in the Treatment and Education of AOD I can assure you that Alcohol is the most damaging drug of all. Just think about the small percentage of Central Nervous System Stimulant users worldwide compared to the larger percentage of Alcohol users worldwide. Yes, Yaba and all other CNS Stimulants have negative impacts on the individual & community however now think about the greater COST Alcohol has on the community as a whole. Alcohol related issues far out way the small percentage of stimulant users' issues!! i.e. slips, trips, falls, Family & domestic violence. Sexual Assaults, vehicle accidents, social and emotional well-being issues, loss of relationships & damage to every cell in the body, massive economical cost to society far greater than stimulant users worldwide. Think about that when you're next tonguing for an Alcoholic beverage Hahaha   🤣

[bubblegum]

Don't even know what it is and does.

[ericthai]

8 hours ago, jvs said:

I am reading and watching a lot of info about what yaba is doing to Thailand.

I believe it is turning into a real crisis and people are effected for the rest of their lives and not in a good way.

Stronger punishment?More understanding and more open dialogue?

Using this stuff is very dangerous and can not/should not even be compared to the use of alcohol or ganja.

A lost generation?Some people even proposing to let people off the hook when they carry no more then five pills.

It is cheaper than alcohol and available any where.

Is the government fishing behind the net?

I think a lot of this stuff comes from a country to the west and the profits are used for the war there.

I have been told that once you get hooked it is very hard to go clean again.

Any ideas out there?

It's not getting, it's been a problem for decades. How to stop it, I have no clues as first the police would need to do their job and they only do that once in a while to show everyone that something is being done.

 

There is just too much money being made both inside and outside of Thailand.  If you dont already know the BIB controls most of this. The prices continue to go down and unfortunately many more people will loose their lives.  

 

The government has talked about rehab programs but this is Thailand and we know any government run program is going to be worthless anyway. 

So, what's the answer in Thailand? I truly dont know.

 

 

[ericthai]

7 hours ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

Pump up the prices.

 

When there's a drug on the market that cost 30 - 50 - 80 Baht (or what ever) a hit, then it is a problem. Because 99% of population can afford be high all day everyday. Pump it up to 500 / 1000 Baht a hit and problem will be gone.

 

So focus on related corruption, trafficking etc. etc. etc. to pump up the price.

please tell me how do you pump up the price, it's not like the government can tax it..

also a tablet last I heard was now about 5 baht, or less.  I heard low as 3 baht, this is what I heard as I dont buy it so dont really know, but for sure not 30+ baht.   

[save the frogs]

how many drug users come from broken homes? abusive fathers? one parent familes? 

 

 

 

 

[fredwiggy]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I agree.

But one important part is legalize it and make sure to tell people it is bad and help them if they need it.

The recent Thai legalization of weed is a good example how not to do it. Having lots of shops everywhere who advertise weed is certainly not the way to go.

 

The very recent way how Germany implemented this is, IMHO, a good controlled way. 

You're actually comparing weed to yaba? Weed doesn't cause anywhere near the system damage that yaba, meth, heroin or crack does. Legalizing weed will only do what weed does. Calm people, make them feel happy, make money for the government, help with some diseases, including pain. Legalizing yaba will make millions more zombies that are into a drug they might not kick.

[fredwiggy]

3 hours ago, bubblegum said:

Don't even know what it is and does.

It's methamphetamine and caffeine combined. Highly addictive and damages the nervous system.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, ericthai said:

please tell me how do you pump up the price, it's not like the government can tax it..

also a tablet last I heard was now about 5 baht, or less.  I heard low as 3 baht, this is what I heard as I dont buy it so dont really know, but for sure not 30+ baht.   

My misses came home last week and complained the price was down to 20bht a tablet.

[BritManToo]

Just now, fredwiggy said:

It's methamphetamine and caffeine combined. Highly addictive and damages the nervous system.

Also gives you the energy to work all day in the fields. Drug of choice for Gogo dancers as it gives them the energy to dance all night and it keeps their weight down.

[fredwiggy]

4 hours ago, doosyhindleg said:

People need to understand that Yaba is a far less destructive drug than Alcohol!

With knowledge in the Treatment and Education of AOD I can assure you that Alcohol is the most damaging drug of all. Just think about the small percentage of Central Nervous System Stimulant users worldwide compared to the larger percentage of Alcohol users worldwide. Yes, Yaba and all other CNS Stimulants have negative impacts on the individual & community however now think about the greater COST Alcohol has on the community as a whole. Alcohol related issues far out way the small percentage of stimulant users' issues!! i.e. slips, trips, falls, Family & domestic violence. Sexual Assaults, vehicle accidents, social and emotional well-being issues, loss of relationships & damage to every cell in the body, massive economical cost to society far greater than stimulant users worldwide. Think about that when you're next tonguing for an Alcoholic beverage Hahaha   🤣

You're talking about alcohol abuse. You can drink a glass of wine or beer every day and it won't cause much if any damage. Taking methamphetamine once can get you hooked, and all amounts cause damage. Millions of people drink and don't have troubles like you mentioned. Yaba or any other speed like drug makes a person irritable, defensive, impulsive and anger makes them do things they wouldn't normally do, even with one use.

[fredwiggy]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Also gives you the energy to work all day in the fields. Drug of choice for Gogo dancers as it gives them the energy to dance all night and it keeps their weight down.

And causes damage to the central nervous system. Look up pictures of meth users. This isn't like doing a couple of lines of coke and dancing the night away, although that also leads to addiction in many. People , some, get addicted easy because of their personality. Some people should never touch any drugs, and that's not to say others should.

[KhunLA]

Need to bring back the life & death sentences for distribution, dependent on amounts.  Countries that stick to them, without the revolving door prisons seem to have less drug problems.

[fredwiggy]

29 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

how many drug users come from broken homes? abusive fathers? one parent familes? 

 

 

 

 

For many it happens that way, but not always. I came from a good home but all my friends smoked weed and did other drugs, so I tried it to fit in. I was, am, into working out and do not have an addictive personality so it was just a thing I did occasionally, preferring health over getting high all the time. Some of my friends got addicted to crack when it came around, and one was really into it. Having absent or non caring parents has a child looking more to his or her peers for what to do in life, just as it does for kids having sex too young or not protected. A child having at least one parent they can talk to helps a child know who to trust, and who will deal them straight.

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Yaba or any other speed like drug makes a person irritable, defensive, impulsive and anger makes them do things they wouldn't normally do, even with one use.

You've just described the entire male Thai population, they don't need any drug to be this way.

[jvs]

7 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Need to bring back the life & death sentences for distribution, dependent on amounts.  Countries that stick to them, without the revolving door prisons seem to have less drug problems.

 

There is already a voice in the government that has said upto 5 tablets will be simple possession

and no jail time.

I certainly would not want here what they had in the Philippines during the past few years.

That is also not the answer.

If adults abuse drugs that is one thing but getting ten year old kids hooked on this stuff is terrible!

 

 

[save the frogs]

10 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Need to bring back the life & death sentences for distribution, dependent on amounts.  Countries that stick to them, without the revolving door prisons seem to have less drug problems.

 

whats the drug situation like in philippines with duterte's "I will shoot and kill you" anti-drug campaign?

 

[jvs]

10 hours ago, pasathai said:

intercept it, poison it , put it back on the streets 

And kill little innocent children?No Thanks.