Drug use growing among young despite crackdown

[dArKeR]

AFP , BANGKOK
Tuesday, Jul 27, 2004,Page 5

More young Thais are using drugs than during the government's controversial "war" on the illegal trade that left more than 2,000 people dead, according to a survey yesterday.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government declared the campaign officially over last December but a university poll of nearly 15,000 youngsters found that the proportion of those admitting to drug use had nearly doubled since May last year.

Thailand was criticized over its harsh tactics that reached their peak early last year, with claims of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests, but the project had the overwhelming support of the Thai public, concerned over an epidemic of youth drug addiction.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/07/27/2003180643

Putting young people in jail is not justified. All drugs should be legalized and save our nation and the world from wasting our tax dollars on this stupid non-solution.

[bemildred]

1. Big problems with speed in Thailand.

But criminal law has never been effective or efficient in
dealing with drug issues. Addressing it through education and
public health organizations is the only thing that works even
moderately well; and at least that way you avoid doing more
harm than good. The USA has similar issues with methamphetamines
and is in deep denial about it.