Drug abuse in SE Asia gets tougher to eradicate

[webfact]

Drug abuse gets tougher to eradicate
SAMUDCHA HOONSARA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE OFFICE of the Narcotics Control Board, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) recently held a joint press conference to report on the progress made in the fight against drugs last year.

ONCB deputy secretary-general Ratchaneekorn Sornsiri, UNODC regional representative in Southeast Asia and Pacific Jeremy Douglas and INCB representative Dr Wiroj Soomyai chaired the conference.

The report's main points were:

l Myanmar and Afghanistan remain the world's top heroin producers;

l Southeast Asia is the second-largest producer of marijuana and opium in the world;

l Southeast Asia is a growing market for amphetamine-type stimulants, especially methamphetamine;

l The Golden Triangle is the geographic centre of the Greater Mekong Sub-region and international drug rings will benefit from integration of Southeast Asian nations.

The annual INCB report unveiled at the conference showed that East and Southeast Asia had the highest level of injected drug abuse, accounting for 27 per cent of injected drug users in the world. In the report, INCB also voiced concern about the production and rising demand for heroin in Southeast Asia, as well as amphetamine-type stimulants becoming the second-most abused drug in the region.

Figures in the report also showed that opium users in China had risen from 1.2 million in 2010 to 1.3 million the following year.

Drug abuse and trafficking is becoming worse now because traffickers can easily hoodwink the law by using advanced technology for shipment and production, plus they have managed to infiltrate nearly all circles of society, especially politics.

This is quite worrying because drug abuse is a serious social problem. In fact, there have even been reports of kindergartners using drugs.

Many countries have clear operations for suppressing drug use and trade, but Thailand has a marked lack of this because it has politicians who have allegedly been abusing their posts to reap personal benefits from trade in drugs, contraband and war weapons.

It is quite depressing that people with records of underground business can enter politics and be welcomed by society. There are no punitive measures in place to control these politicians, and some of them can even use their connections to whitewash cases and continue returning to the fold with impunity.

In fact, this has happened so many times, that a majority of Thai citizens have started believing that they can get away with anything. Suspects trying to bribe their way out of jail and punishment are a common sight nowadays.

Maybe the time has come for people to step back and wonder if people with questionable backgrounds should really be allowed to have a hand in running the country. Perhaps, if society continues pushing for reform and tries to keep people with grey backgrounds out of politics, the country may be able to pull itself out of the drug problem.

Because if no action is taken soon, things will only worsen and everybody will be affected - that's when the country will truly be in upheaval.


-- The Nation 2014-03-06

[noitom]

While this article raises some great issues and questions about Thailand, it is weak and waffling. Imagine asking "is it time to step back and wonder?" Well of course they should be jailed and the question of them being in publicly appointed leadership or elected officials should be moot.

[speedtripler]

its widely known chuwit was basically a pimp and got rich from all his prostitution clubs ,many with underage girls

hes not even allowed a holiday visa to visit the usa because of his past and a lot of people actually like him

because hes not afraid of the police and acts like a tough guy at every chance he gets .......definately PM material

[Om85]

The prohibition is just stupid, opium, marijuana, etc should be legalized, end of the problem.

[chainarong]

This takes me back to the so called drug eradication programme by the former PM Thaskin Shinawatra, around four half Thousand either where murdered or disappeared in the eradication of drugs in northern Thailand, this caused the U.N. to start investigations into crimes against humanity against Thaskin , the point is , it never solved the problem , there are some people that want to talk to Thaskin about their family's loss, and how weak the U.N.is , nothing has proceeded since the PTP came to power , perhaps they are afraid of disappearing.

[marko kok prong]

I like the line'the majority of thai people think they can get away with anything' well i guess if you have big pockets yes,like the red bull heir.

[speedtripler]

I like the line'the majority of thai people think they can get away with anything' well i guess if you have big pockets yes,like the red bull heir.

deep pockets or a uniform,brown or green ,doesnt matter which

[neverdie]

The prohibition is just stupid, opium, marijuana, etc should be legalized, end of the problem.

Well of course, there's no problem with the use of these illicit drugs, they don't hurt anyone, so let's just do away with all the drug laws. Good idea (not).

As it stands, why not get rid of all laws, after all, it's normally only the victims that complain. if we get rid of all laws, we could be a free society, there'd be no need for police, courts, jails etc, think of all the money we could save, after all, prohibition is just so stupid.

Let's face it the world would be such a safe place if everyone could just do what they wanted.

[Om85]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The prohibition is just stupid, opium, marijuana, etc should be legalized, end of the problem.

Well of course, there's no problem with the use of these illicit drugs, they don't hurt anyone, so let's just do away with all the drug laws. Good idea (not).

As it stands, why not get rid of all laws, after all, it's normally only the victims that complain. if we get rid of all laws, we could be a free society, there'd be no need for police, courts, jails etc, think of all the money we could save, after all, prohibition is just so stupid.

Let's face it the world would be such a safe place if everyone could just do what they wanted.

Then prohibit the use of alcohol, tobacco, etc , they are worse than marijuana and cocaine and the addiction to them is more difficult to eradicate, and they causes far more death and more damage to human health. in my country the consumption of drugs is perfectly legal and we have one of the lowest rates of addition in the world, just bcuz they drugs are legal doesnt mean that the majority of the people are gonna start to use them.

[neverdie]

delete please.

Edited March 6, 2014 by neverdie

[neverdie]

multiple posts.

Edited March 6, 2014 by neverdie

[neverdie]

multiple posts.

Edited March 6, 2014 by neverdie

[speedtripler]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The prohibition is just stupid, opium, marijuana, etc should be legalized, end of the problem.

Well of course, there's no problem with the use of these illicit drugs, they don't hurt anyone, so let's just do away with all the drug laws. Good idea (not).

As it stands, why not get rid of all laws, after all, it's normally only the victims that complain. if we get rid of all laws, we could be a free society, there'd be no need for police, courts, jails etc, think of all the money we could save, after all, prohibition is just so stupid.

Let's face it the world would be such a safe place if everyone could just do what they wanted.

Then prohibit the use of alcohol, tobacco, etc , they are worse than marijuana and cocaine and the addiction to them is more difficult to eradicate, and they causes far more death and more damage to human health. in my country the consumption of drugs is perfectly legal and we have one of the lowest rates of addition in the world, just bcuz they drugs are legal doesnt mean that the majority of the people are gonna start to use them.

yaba ,ice ,crystal meth etc are not even proper drugs as they are made from poisonous chemicals ,legalising them would be a mistake imo

legalising other plant based drugs like cannabis ,coke,heroin and putting a tax on it would be better than it being mafia controlled and safer for the users who are going to use it anyway with quality control etc

at least they could monitor and control the users instead of driving it underground into secrecy where nobody knows how many people are using what and whos selling it to them

[ChrisY1]

"It is quite depressing that people with records of underground business can enter politics and be welcomed by society. There are no punitive measures in place to control these politicians, and some of them can even use their connections to whitewash cases and continue returning to the fold with impunity."

If only Thailand had good, strong investigative journalists and editors.....and of course, modern defamation laws..much of this activity would possibly disappear.

[neverdie]

Then prohibit the use of alcohol, tobacco, etc , they are worse than marijuana and cocaine and the addiction to them is more difficult to eradicate, and they causes far more death and more damage to human health.

I agree. GOOD Idea !

[djhotsox]

"....but Thailand has a marked lack of this because it has politicians who have allegedly been abusing their posts to reap personal benefits from trade in drugs, contraband and war weapons."

Could someone please enlighten me as to which politicians (other than above mentioned Chuwit) in Thailand have done so?

[HooHaa]

its widely known chuwit was basically a pimp and got rich from all his prostitution clubs ,many with underage girls

hes not even allowed a holiday visa to visit the usa because of his past and a lot of people actually like him

because hes not afraid of the police and acts like a tough guy at every chance he gets .......definately PM material

what does this have to do with drugs or the OP?

[soalbundy]

"It is quite depressing that people with records of underground business can enter politics and be welcomed by society. There are no punitive measures in place to control these politicians, and some of them can even use their connections to whitewash cases and continue returning to the fold with impunity."

If only Thailand had good, strong investigative journalists and editors.....and of course, modern defamation laws..much of this activity would possibly disappear.

They probably did have good journalists some years ago.........but they just kept disappearing.

Be fair,being an investigative journalist can be dangerous anywhere,in Thailand its lethal,like being an environmentalist.

How can the deformation laws be changed if the crooks who fear being investigated are making the laws.

Thailand needs a major overhaul,but outside of a major calamity or revolution it wont happen. In the event of a major calamity they will just wait for the untrustworthy western governments to help, for a revolution they are too apathetic.Pressure must come from outside,from governments and business leaders in developed countries, but.......why should they bother.

[speedtripler]

its widely known chuwit was basically a pimp and got rich from all his prostitution clubs ,many with underage girls

hes not even allowed a holiday visa to visit the usa because of his past and a lot of people actually like him

because hes not afraid of the police and acts like a tough guy at every chance he gets .......definately PM material

what does this have to do with drugs or the OP?

being a scumbag pimp taking advantage of young poor girls is every bit as bad as selling drugs imo

why shoukd the likes of him get to be a politician ?

actualy it was a reply to another post about high up politicians being involved in the drugs trade but the quotes got messed up somehow

[bangkokpoppys]

The prohibition is just stupid, opium, marijuana, etc should be legalized, end of the problem.

legalisation is one approach and works in some countries, but you'd have to ask the question whether anywhere in SE Asia (except Singapore & Brunei) has a framework that can accept legalisation of Class A's without inducing more issues.

I'd argue that a country that has trouble with helmet law compliance is unlikely to be successful with any legalisation.

[steve73]

Tom Feiling puts up a good case for decriminalising drugs in the last chapter of his 2009 book "The Candy Machine". The book concentrates mainly on cocaine in the America's but does offer some obvious similarities anywhere. Definitely worth a read for all you armchair prohibitionists (or decriminalists).

[gordon from yasothon]

Yep,It ain't the place it use to be.............

[BeforeTigers]

Legalize it.
Problem solved.
You're welcome.

[hgma]

too little too late.

turning back the tidle waves of Smack&Crack Ice and whathavewe, will take a massive ASEAN political approach.

I Like the Laotian way od DEFINING drugs&society, NOT drug treatment procedures.

Class 1

Occasional users (party goers)

Remedy: Education, public awarness.

Class 2

Problematic users

Remedy : Family and Community (village militia)

Yet to step in the hardline drugaddict catagory, but socially problematic in family and community.

Class 3

Hard core drug addicts

Rehabilitation&re-education.

Police- courts- rehab.

Add my personal opinion that ASEAN has an oppportunity to set the tone for a new drug related policy in ASEAN commitment,by de-regulating the use of Marihuana and my personal listing is complete.

just a personal opinion.

[BeforeTigers]

The prohibition is just stupid, opium, marijuana, etc should be legalized, end of the problem.

Well of course, there's no problem with the use of these illicit drugs, they don't hurt anyone, so let's just do away with all the drug laws. Good idea (not).

As it stands, why not get rid of all laws, after all, it's normally only the victims that complain. if we get rid of all laws, we could be a free society, there'd be no need for police, courts, jails etc, think of all the money we could save, after all, prohibition is just so stupid.

Let's face it the world would be such a safe place if everyone could just do what they wanted.

If you'd have just said, "I disagree" you would have spared us all knowing what ridiculously weak logic you were actually using.

"(not)" is not an argument.

But I was sort of impressed with your ability to combine a non-sequitur and a slippery slope into a single thought. Not.

[Crushdepth]

Fortunately Thaksin won the war on drugs and Thailand is drug-free.

[Tomtomtom69]

its widely known chuwit was basically a pimp and got rich from all his prostitution clubs ,many with underage girls

hes not even allowed a holiday visa to visit the usa because of his past and a lot of people actually like him

because hes not afraid of the police and acts like a tough guy at every chance he gets .......definately PM material

Of course he's not allowed to be issued a visa to the USA or any other respectable country...rich developed countries have character requirements and a criminal record generally prevents the entry of such persons. Even a one day overstay in those countries leads to an exclusion period - unlike in Thailand where you can just return the same day.

Countries like the USA certainly don't need foreign criminals wanting to go on holiday there - most people would agree there are already enough criminals over there as it is and law enforcement's resources are already tied up dealing with them.

Chuwit can holiday in Thailand or if needs to go abroad, Laos or Cambodia, neither of which seem to care about people's criminal past. The rest of the world doesn't need some tough guy who thinks he's above the law.

Edited March 6, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[neverdie]

@beforetigers.

2 things:

1. what makes you think I post to please you?

2. Yawn!

[hyperdimension]

What exactly is meant by the word "abuse"? Many things have multiple uses. What makes one use wrong and another right? Ethanol (drinking alcohol) is commonly used as both a disinfectant and a recreational drug. Is the use of ethanol as a recreational drug an example of "abuse"? Most people, particularly those who themselves ingest ethanol as a recreational drug (e.g. beer and wine drinkers), would say not. Similarly, most people would not consider smokers to be abusing tobacco, just using. So if someone injects himself with heroin or morphine in order to relieve pain, is he an "abuser"? Pain relief is one of the primary uses of opiates, and should therefore not be considered as abuse when opiates are used for pain relief.

I think the use of the word "abuse" is merely an attempt to paint recreational drug use in a negative light, as if it is a practice that should not be done, when in reality millions of people partake in recreational drug use globally and is widely accepted by all levels of society (in particular reference to ethanol and other legal drugs). The phrase "drug abuse" should therefore not be used, and replaced instead by the more technically accurate and unbiased phrases "drug use" or "drug consumption", regardless of the legal status of the drugs being discussed.

Edited March 9, 2014 by hyperdimension

[bababbusy]

I don't even know where to start with this article. I think it is riddled with disinformation and distorted facts. So what is INCB and who is Jeremy Douglas -a regional representative. What is he about and what is his agenda? I do like the term the geographic centre talking about the golden triangle area of southeast asia. If they aren't allowed to grow the poppy then let them grow the cannabis and let the people thrive. If somebody has a problem then help them. The article is a sad & comical piece of writing. You know big pharma is behind all this unjust madness…everything that is wrong! And where is all this weed being claimed to being produced…where is it…where is it going…I ain't seeing it.