Homepage > Thai Youth Issues > Study finds drug users have much in common

Date: July 9th, 2001, The Nation

Teenage methamphetamine users in the Northeast have many things in common with their Bangkok peers, said Assc Prof Somphong Jitradab of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education.

The findings came as a result of qualitative research interviews with 50 drug users aged between 17 and 23 in the provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Roi Et, and Udon Thani, by local non-governmental organisations.

Somphong listed 25 common characteristics between the two groups, ranging from the fact that most came from broken families, to many suffering from low self-esteem.

Here are some selected commonalities:

Youths took methamphetamines so they could feel more relaxed and relieved of their troubles.

They forgot their suffering, but once the drug's effects wore off they felt very weak, sleepy, bored and easily irritated.

They seek instant gratification.

They shun hard work.

Most are detached from their cultural roots.

Most are lonely and love to chat on mobile phones for a long time.

Most have shunned education or have academic difficulties.

Most resort to stealing when they have no money.

Most are sexually promiscuous, with women trading sex for drugs.

They have a taste for expensive goods.

They don't talk about religion, sin, or merit making.

Drugs, sex, and materialism are the common things they have in life.

They see equality in terms of sex, drugs, and alcohol.

Many women end up having abortions.

They get confused easily and become defensive when conversing with others.

Many end up trading in methamphetamines due to the easy profits to be made.

Their parents tended to raise them with a focus on materialism while offering them little personal attention.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

THE NATION