Hi, I would like some of your views on how best to handle this situation.

My wife has informed me that there are concerns within her family that her 16 year old son is mixing with a group of slightly older teens in Korat who are frequent users of Yaba. Unfortunately the local BIB are not doing anything and the problem in the area is escalating. My wife and I live in BKK whilst her son is at school in Korat. We have arranged for him to stay with us for a few weeks here in BKK in order to get in away from the problem, albeit for a short period of time as school will commence in a few weeks.

Whilst he is here I would like to show him the effects of the drug and how it can ruin your life. He is at a critical age and its important that he is aware of the dangers. I myself was no saint at that age, but my parents and school did what they could to open my eyes not only to the dangers of drugs, but also what I could become if I put my mind to it.

Can anyone provide any input as to what we should do?

Of course it's risky me stepping in, but of course I want the best for him. The plan is for him to study here in BKK once he finishes high school and I fear that these ground of friends will hold him back.

I'm afraid I have no specific suggestions on how you can "show" him the dangers of yaba. I'm also not sure that anything you could show or say would help. As you have already figured out, getting him away from those friends is the key.

I find that this often happens with children who are away from their parents. Even though there are usually solid reasons why the separation seems necessary (e.g. the mother needing to work in a city etc), the kid at some level feels rejected/abandoned and they act out. Seen it many, many times. If it is in any way possible for him to come to Bkk now and finish HS there, living with his mother, it would probably be the best solution.