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?  

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.

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. 

It's rife throughout the whole country not just in Isaan and is so cheap.

 

The country is awash with it like it is with the drinking of Lao Khao, a quick way to start a argument which leads to severe consequences.

 

Nothing is done apart from the usual photo op of a drugs bust here and there.

 

We all know why because the money is paid to those to turn a blind eye.

For the OP, the kids aren't his. He can divorce and leave. This situation didn't suddenly happen. If there was no full disclosure from his wife about supporting her deadbeat progeny, then he's not obliged to fork out for it or even hang around. Life's too short for this sh*t.

Back to the topic of yabba, our moobahn has seen a steady increase in thefts from property. These are mostly happening during daylight hours when homes are either unoccupied or the occupant is busy elsewhere, dogs are sleeping, and the gate isn't secured: an Isaan thing! Bicycles, water bottles, plastic chairs, even aircon condenser units and wiring: anything that's not secured and they can sell for the few baht they need for their high. Night time sees our motion detectors (and dogs) triggered by the desperate snooping around to see what they can get.

 

A couple of months back, we had a yabba head walk through the house at around 10 pm as he escaped over the wall from the neighbors pit bull. The thing that bothered me and the wife (we were away on vacation when it happened), that despite several adults being on the property, nobody did much about it, including still not locking the back door of the house after this had occured. Mrs NL read the riot act to the "lodgers and squatters" on that revelation!

A friend of mine who supports her mum dad, son, 2 brothers, buffalo everything has an addicted brother 28, drink and drugs, he takes money off parents doesn't work, someone will get killed, just a matter of time. Isaan. He just does drink and drugs with others everyday. He crushes the yabba up and puts it in alcohol 

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

A friend of mine who supports her mum dad, son, 2 brothers, buffalo everything has an addicted brother 28, drink and drugs, he takes money off parents doesn't work, someone will get killed, just a matter of time. Isaan. He just does drink and drugs with others everyday. He crushes the yabba up and puts it in alcohol 

10bht a pill, how many could he possibly need in 1 day?

 

Let's assume totally out of control, 10x a day = 3,000bht a month, not that big a deal money wise.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

10bht a pill, how many could he possibly need in 1 day?

 

Let's assume totally out of control, 10x a day = 3,000bht a month, not that big a deal money wise.

He should be working rather than sponging off his parents and causing grief, on a downward spiral, probably better for everyone if he overdosed

If it's that bad, have you considered walking away, or at least moving elsewhere with wife? -- unlikely she'll give up on family.

It's even worse in Laos villages.  

3 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It's even worse in Laos villages.  

still doing opium there?

40 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

still doing opium there?

Not that I'm aware of, but yabba is rife in the village.  At least opium just chills people out.  Yabba is a menace.

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

10bht a pill, how many could he possibly need in 1 day?

 

Let's assume totally out of control, 10x a day = 3,000bht a month, not that big a deal money wise.

 

It's not only about the money, it's the associated heartbreak the users cause.

 

Most are layabouts and get money for drugs from cheating, theft and burgling, doing anything to get funds to buy drugs.

 

They are not 10 baht either, nearer 50 baht to 100 baht.

 

They also attack and bully family members for money, hurt loved ones, neglect their own children and have no respect for others whilst out of control on these substances.

 

Yaa Baa is a scourge on society in Thailand.

 

75% of those in jail are on drug related offences.

 

 

 

 

11 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It's even worse in Laos villages.  

 

Then it must be cheap, because the cost of living in Laos is more expensive than Thailand, and on poorer wages.

Taking YABA means you are an idiot. Sadly, there are many idiots....😫

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

10bht a pill, how many could he possibly need in 1 day?

 

Let's assume totally out of control, 10x a day = 3,000bht a month, not that big a deal money wise.

It is if they dont have a job or any money!

Yabba, ie crystal meth mixed with additives, is indeed a scourge, especially, but not exclusively, in Isaan. It is a stimulant that results in extreme aggression, doubly so if combined with alcohol. It is cheap and readily available. The police should be incentivised to be more active in helping to control it's use. A further thought, if users can't exist without some form of restorative cannabis would be a much less harmful alternative.

Been home country lately? Oz is very bad, 8yrs back it zapped two good pals of mine, solid workers andbusiness men till it took hold,. And it aint cheap there.! 

I always avoid bum groups who are drinking lao khao or popping yaba. If you're in a semi-decent village and you yourself are decent then just make sure you befriend the better locals. I must admit when I first visited Thailand over 20 years ago it was quite crazy with people taking drugs, murder rates were fairly high, but it calmed down but I have noticed an uptick in the last couple of years. 

Cost and no future prospects combined mostly I would say

It's a horrible drug and it has become way too cheap as there's a ready supply.

 

I don't see anyone in charge making serious efforts to fix it; families and communities are pretty much left to deal with the fallout of this epidemic. 

Why has fentanyl etc taken over US culture...

On 11/7/2024 at 6:23 AM, willip said:

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?  

Take your wife and move far away.

3 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

It's not only about the money, it's the associated heartbreak the users cause.

 

Most are layabouts and get money for drugs from cheating, theft and burgling, doing anything to get funds to buy drugs.

 

They are not 10 baht either, nearer 50 baht to 100 baht.

 

They also attack and bully family members for money, hurt loved ones, neglect their own children and have no respect for others whilst out of control on these substances.

 

Yaa Baa is a scourge on society in Thailand.

 

75% of those in jail are on drug related offences.

 

 

 

 

Wow Ganja cheaper and better, no angry just relaxing and feeling good and kind.😀

3 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Then it must be cheap, because the cost of living in Laos is more expensive than Thailand, and on poorer wages.

Yes, ridiculously cheap.

59 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Why has fentanyl etc taken over US culture...

Is it because so many doctors prescribe it and then get lovely benefits?

It would be helpful if you would follow the Thai language and refer to the drug as ya baa, or yaa baa, or ya ba. To the OP, it sounds like you need to talk to your phu yai baan about rehabilitation programs. Are there any in your province?

 

Yaa Baa is not ruining Thai culture. It's been part of Thai culture for over 50 years. It is a burden on the Thai people, but it's up to them to find a solution. Their current solution is to throw into prison anyone caught using it. Not much success so far, as your son-in-law demonstrates.

1 hour ago, Acharn said:

it would be helpful if you would follow the Thai language and refer to the drug as ya baa, or yaa baa, or ya ba.

Unimportant, we all knew what he meant

On 11/7/2024 at 6:23 AM, willip said:

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?  

And some say life in Thailand is “Living the Dream”.