Yaba drug abuse on the rise

Yaba drug abuse on the rise

(Reported by Taing Taw, Kaowao: September 3, 2006)



Yaba is breaking out in the black market in southern Burma at an
alarming rate due to its connection to the Burmese army and its high
distribution rate within the community, as easily bought as candy at
the neighborhood store.



"Do you want alcohol or yaba," is the first question asked by young
people at parties and social events when inviting others to join in.



Yaba, which means crazy medicine in Thai, is a combination of
methamphetamine and caffeine, an over-the-counter drug in Thailand, and
is becoming the drug of choice by young people who want to indulge at
social events, others use it in private, alone to stay awake all night
to drive or work. They say it gives a 'nice high' compared to
alcohol. In the face of growing social problems including a high crime
rate, yaba has made its way to southern Burma communities by local
distributors and criminal networks.



Young people using the drug say it gives a 'nice feeling' compared
to alcohol and it can be inhaled, injected, snorted or taken orally by
seasoned drug users. "Yaba gives me a nice feeling when I drive, but
alcohol does not," said a young user from southern Mudon to a Kaowao
source recently.



At the moment it is not known how 'seasoned' the drug users are in
using the drug in Mon State and how widespread it is given the lack of
infrastructure and awareness of the serious health risks in taking the
drug, but many fear it is here to stay for a long time given its
acceptance, distribution, and demand by the population.



A yaba tablet in Mudon is worth 2000 Kyats ($US 1 dollar US or 1300
Kyats). People who have a close relationship with senior members of the
SPDC can easily sell it publicly in any township. Protecting its
threat by the anti-drug police charged with investigating its use do
not dare question those responsible for spreading its use fearing
repercussions and harassment.



Some locals believe yaba was brought from northern Burma by train by
local distributors who have a good relationship with high-ranking
senior members of the SPDC in Karen State. Some SPDC soldiers including
captains brought yaba by train to the Mon State, says the local source.



The local people say it was brought from the north of the country,
however, it is not known from which part. Others say that it made its
way into the community through migrant workers and human traffickers.
The worst hit areas are Ye township and Kaw Been community in
Kaw-ka-reit township in Karen State, home to large migrant worker
populations. Clearly one thing is for certain, the Burmese Army and its
allies are related to its high use.



DKBA troops in southern Karen State near to the state capital Pha-an
are lining up daily to buy yaba at the Karen Buddhist Army Battalion
No. 666 base located along the motor road from Mon to Karen State.



"If you want to arrest yaba dealers, please arrest the main
distributors who sell it publicly in the village (southern Mudon
township village)," pleaded a youth to a Kaowao source.



To sustain their addiction, users steal property such as motorbikes and
sell them to get money to buy yaba. Villagers no longer leave their
valuables out in the open at night and women dare not go out at night
fearing robbery by the drug addicts. "There are many thieves in the
village now," they explained.



In Mon state, there are two types of yaba, one of high quality that
fetches a high price in the market and is from northern part of the
country known by the local people as Shan State, the other is of low
quality and is cheaper to buy from Karen state under DKBA control. The
people, especially human traffickers, use yaba from the north because
they can afford it; casual users not addicted buy the lower quality
pills. Price of one yaba pill from the north ranges from between 1500
to 3000 Kyats while the drug from Karen State is worth 1000 to 2000
Kyats.



"Yaba from Karen State is of bad quality and causes serious health
problems including headaches and the lack of an appetite," a Mon
community worker from Ye town said. Young people, he said, in Ye town
are heavy users compared to other parts of Mon State. Mon State
university students buy it from DKBA and in resell it to their friends
at 2200 Kyat per tablet.



According to a medical source from Kaw Been village, many people
addicted to yaba suffer from its effects including paranoia and
insomnia and shout and cry at night. Other side effects are high blood
pressure, increased heart rate, damage to the blood vessels in the
brain which can lead to stroke and other risks related to its
preparation especially by injection which exposes the user to AIDS and
other diseases.



One young man pointed out that there are more drug related arrests and
investigators say that most convicts are in jail because of drug
related charges. Moulmein is home to one of the bases of DKBA who sell
yaba outright to the locals.



Yaba use in the NMSP controlled areas has decreased since the party
cracked down on human trafficking two years ago, a young man from rural
area of Mon state said. Many human traffickers and yaba users were
detained in the three party provincial administration bases.



Some members of the party were also charged with human trafficking and
detained, the source from the NMSP said who requested anonymity.
"Some members of the party were removed from their position and
charged with dealing in the drug." But its use remains high outside
of these areas and social workers say that its prevalence may lead to
serious health problems including psychological or physical dependence
for those who use it.



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