Yabba

[willip]

Why is yabba ruining thai culture?. It seems unstoppable. In my village it's taken by 80%. According to my wife. Wives are leaving thier husband's and children because they can't take anymore. My wife's son has just done 2yrs in jail, his third sentence. I pay for looking after his son. The police say the jails are full.  So they are reluctant to arrest anyone for taking yabba. He's been out for a month.  And is taking it again!!! . He's harassing us again. Intimidating his mother!. He thinks everyone wants to kill him. He tried to kill my sister in law.  That's why he got 2yrs. I'm fed up with him. I just want to give his son back to him. His problem not mine. I phoned the tourist police thinking I would speak to a farrang. It was a thai. I wanted him to acknowledge my phone call. Log it. He said we must report it directly to the police in khon kaen. Last time police said they cannot do anything unless he commits a crime. This must mean a  murder then. By then it's to late. It's in the news all the time. Family members being killed because they want money for yabba. I've retired in Thailand now. My days of having kids are over. But I now have to pay for and look after 2. Thailand is looking pretty bad from my situation. I love ❤️ my wife but I'm thinking I don't deserve all this stress. I came to Thailand for a better life. But in reality it's a sentence!!

Anybody have similar experience?  

[yosib157]

My village council had a meeting last week with many other villages from the surrounding area in Roi Et Province to discuss this terrible yabba epidemic. My wife was invited and as you say, this problem is huge throughout Isaan and probably same the whole country.

That said, my immediate concern is for my wife's 40 year old brother. Their older brother dropped dead around 3 years ago after years of alcohol abuse. The younger brother, 40  with a 12 year old son, is obviously heading in the same direction. Although he has a good job, he is on the white whisky at every opportunity and on Sunday, his day off, he and his drinking buddies start at 7.30 am. I have expressed concern with other family members but they don't seem concerned that the 12 year old nephew will follow his Dad's example but I can't see him ever getting a job so will only work rice -- and drink white whisky.

In my 23 years with this family I can only claim credit for helping to straighten one young man many years ago. He is also around 40 and working/living north Bangkok with a lovely wife and baby. When he visits the village he always makes a beeline for me as he remembers our heated exchanges from that long time ago and appreciates how he recovered.

So, one out of two is half but I cannot think of a solution to the yabba problem which some say can be bought from 5 thb to 50 per tab. I suppose the price varies with demand and availability.

[Owiee]

As already mentioned this is a Thailand wide problem but probably bigger in Issan. I too have experienced the impact on extended family due to this drug and also alcohol in general, you could also throw gambling into the mix. To a degree at least in “my area” l believe poor education, lack of employment opportunities, peer group pressure and a limited understanding of personal accountability all contribute to the problem. However in fairness illegal drugs are a world wide problem, the main difference l see from Western Countries versus Thailand is the possible lack of support services. My wife and l refuse to financially help any family members who take drugs, drink or gamble, we are lucky such issues only impact extended family members.