Thai Youth Going To Pot

[Darlek]

More drug users, delinquents among Thai youth, says survey

By Nirmal Ghosh

BANGKOK - A recent survey suggested not only that the government's controversial war on drugs last year was a hollow victory, but also painted a picture of Thai youth increasingly adrift from traditional values and family ties.

Data extrapolated from the survey by Assumption University, which covered more than 14,000 youngsters aged 11 to 26 years in 29 provinces, found the number of drug abusers more than doubled from 444,307 in February last year to 955,764 this February.

In December last year, the government declared victory in its war on drugs that left more than 2,000 people dead.

The survey found that the majority of young drug users were not in the formal education system - and the highest proportion by far was in the troubled south, where 9.74 per cent of respondents said they took drugs as opposed to 4.34 per cent in the north-east, a region equally poor.

Methamphetamines and marijuana were the drugs of choice.

The survey also found fewer teens living with parents, more teens having watched pornography and the number of teenagers involved in 'social good' activities falling.

The number of respondents giving alms to monks on their dawn rounds fell from 85.3 per cent to 79.4 per cent in the same period.

Commenting on the survey findings, 20-year-old Saowalak Krischor, a student at Dusit Thani College, told The Straits Times she rarely gave alms to monks except on her birthday and other special occasions.

'I think lately, teenagers rarely do it because they don't have time and also usually wake up late,' she said.

The findings came as no surprise to social workers and those involved in issues related to drugs, who have long maintained that the war on drugs may have driven prices up and dealers underground, but only temporarily.

The war on drugs concentrated on methamphetamine pills known locally as yaba.

The issue of delinquent youth is also one that the authorities have been struggling to deal with.

Gang wars, motorcycle racing and gambling are rife among vocational college students, and the number of young men being ordained into the monkhood - a near-universal practice among young Thai males in the past - has been dwindling.

A ban on late-night playing of the Internet-based video game Ragnarok imposed last year has had little effect - Ragnarok parlours still do thriving business until well past midnight.

[snoophound]

yep sad but true,I think its a global thing all stemming from breakdown in family values.

even see the gang/drugs thing with asian students here in AUS.

[Begs]

Jeeeeeeeeez........................They may eventually be as bad as kids from UK and USA........................

Well ok, maybe not that bad.

[Sexy Beast]

Bring back THE CANE in schools. That'd do the trick!

Lets get back to some ‘Dickensian’ values in the education system but preferably only there because we don’t want hanging reinstated now do we?

[igotworms]

Bring back THE CANE in schools. That'd do the trick!

Abuse is always the answer.

or

How about incorporating useful information about drugs and violence within their health education curriculum.

I notice that there is a lack of organized sports outside of school in Thailand. Some of these kids would benefit from after school team sports. Football for example. Lets give them some alternatives.

[Sexy Beast]

How about incorporating useful information about drugs and violence within their health education curriculum

Nah! Just beat them with a thwacking rod of solid bamboo.....

But igotworms I'm a teacher and tempting as giving them a good beating is, I quite agree. As opposed to letting them drive around the streets on their mates Honda Dreams three at a time because they’re bored and skint with little else to do the government should encourage some out of school alternatives.

[Tornado]

I think this problem with kids is in every country.

I believe the kids parents should be re educated about supporting the family unit and not chasing the dollar. Family values are not what they were.

[Sexy Beast]

I believe the kids parents should be re educated about supporting the family unit and not chasing the dollar. Family values are not what they were.

You’re quite right Tornado. The main problem being is the ‘nuclear’ family has become a commercial stereotype and concept. But they way people think about attaining it is through money and not family.