Chemical Drug Use Increasing in Asia

By VIOLET CHO

The use of chemical drugs has increased considerably among youths in developing countries with Asia leading the way, according to a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In its report, the UN drugs bureau warns that synthetic drugs, such as amphetamine, methamphetamine and ecstasy—which it calls “the drugs of modern times”—are becoming more popular in developing countries.

“Asia, with its huge population and increasing affluence, is driving demand,” said the UNODC report.

In addition, new forms of synthetic drugs are emerging in Southeast Asia, such as highly pure crystalline methamphetamine, known as “crystal meth” or “ice.”

“This is of concern,” says UNODC expert Jeremy Douglas. “Young people are particularly vulnerable to methamphetamine use.”

The concerns were backed by community leaders in Burma who have seen drug use spiraling out of control in recent years.

“More than 60 percent of the young people in Kachin State are using drugs,” claimed Aung Wa, the chairman of the Kachin Development Network Group (KDNG). “Our community has free access to all kind of drugs, such as methamphetamine and heroin, so most young people—even the university students—take drugs.”

Aung Wa added that as more Burmese youngsters try out drugs, an increasing number are becoming involved in selling drugs as well.

“Poverty and a lack of jobs in Burma is a major factor that is forcing young people to become involved in dealing drugs,” he said.

“The young generation in Kachin state is totally destroyed by drugs. I don’t know what the future holds—so many of our young people are now drug users, criminals and thieves,” he said.

“Both the local Kachin and the military authorities know about the problem, but they don’t take action as long as the drug dealers give them bribes,” he added.

According to a high school teacher at Three Pagodas Pass in Mon State, most of the young people in the area are depressed by the instability of the political and economic environment, so they take drugs as a way of relieving their sadness. “About 8 out of 10 young people are using drugs,” he said.

Meanwhile, a rubber plantation owner in Three Pagodas Pass told The Irrawaddy that many young people in her village are dealing drugs because they can make more money from drugs than from working.

“It is very difficult for me to find people to work in my rubber plantation now,” she said. “I can only afford to pay 150 baht (US $4.30) per day. Young people aren’t interested.”

Chemical drug use started becoming popular in the mid-1990s in Burma. Observers say it has now become fashionable and widely accepted by youngsters.

The worldwide market for amphetamine-type drugs was worth about $65 billion, said the UNODC report. Drugs are now big business in Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Burma.

The September 9 report would appear to contradict claims by Burma’s Ministry of Home Affairs that drug abuse is declining in the country: official government statistics claim that the number of drug users in Burma has decreased from 61,455 in 2005 to 54,705 in January 2008.

UNODC executive director Antonio Maria Costa said that unlike plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroin, the production of synthetic drugs—estimated at 500 tonnes globally a year—was hard to trace since the ingredients were readily available for legitimate industrial purposes.

“When one lab is shut, another opens. When one type of precursor chemical is unavailable, producers switch to an alternative,” Costa said.

“This presents a challenge to law enforcement since production is so close to retail outlets. Therefore, greater emphasis should be put on prevention,” he added.

In 2006, almost half of Asian countries reported an increase in methamphetamine use.

The UN report also noted “an increased involvement of organized criminal groups in the trade.”