Marijuana is most-abused drug

Published: 18/01/2009 at 11:44 AM
Online news: Breakingnews

Many teenagers in Bangkok liked to use marijuana, followed by amphetamines and kratom leaves (Mitragyna Speciosa), according to the Abac Poll of Assumption University.

The poll's recent study on drug abusers was conducted in Bangkok involving people between 12 and 65 years old from 2,452 households from January 2 to 17, 2009.

43.6 per cent of the communities taking the survey said they rarely or never watched over narcotics in their areas, while 53.6 per cent said their communities had done little or nothing to prevent illicit drugs from spreading in their areas.

Out of 4,274,757 people, 593,314 tried using drugs, excluding alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug, followed by amphetamines, kratom, methamphetamines, inhalants, love pills, heroine, opium, ketamines, and cocaine.

As for people aged between 12 and 24 years old, 23,981 smoked marijuana in the past 30 days. In addition, 22,226 took amphetamines, 18,168 took methamphetamines, 13,347 smoked kratom and 6,795 used inhalants.

Abac Poll director Noppadon Kannika said narcotics have reemerged after the Thaksin Shinawatra administration declared war on drugs.

He called on the coalition government led by the Democrat party to put this matter on the national agenda again.

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Writer: BangkokPost.com

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Somboon

Discussion 9 : 19/01/2009 at 01:00 PM9
I usually ignore Noppadon's polls. He has polls coming out like mushrooms and most of them are useless. I wonder how he structured his questions. What does he do at ABAC anyway?
v

Discussion 8 : 19/01/2009 at 01:37 AM8
Should legalize it via doctor prescription like in the US, good start.
In parts of america good for the failing economy, largest cash crop in value grown in america.
Moo Noi

Discussion 7 : 19/01/2009 at 01:28 AM7
I need to go to bed. I read "EXcluding alcoholic beverages and cigarettes" as "INcluding" alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.

So disregard my last comment if you haven't already.
Moo Noi

Discussion 6 : 19/01/2009 at 01:24 AM6
"Out of 4,274,757 people, 593,314 tried using drugs, excluding alcoholic beverages and cigarettes."

That's around 15% in th age group 12 to 65. I would have guessed it was much higher, maybe over 50% either smoking or drinking. Especially when the poll was over New Years I'd have guessed it was approaching the high end.
elnino

Discussion 5 : 18/01/2009 at 08:49 PM5
BBC Panorama did a documentary a few years ago and showed that marijuana was less dangerous than alcohol.

Without the TRUTH your war on drugs is doomed.
Paul Septuagenarian

Discussion 4 : 18/01/2009 at 08:01 PM4
Marijuana should not even be listed as a 'drug' and any "War on Drugs" is just another governmental way to scare most people, rip-off others, and unleash the violence & corruption inherent for underpaid police throughout the world. It would be far smarter to legalize drugs (like the two biggest already legalized; alcohol & tobacco), which will do away with 'dealers', regulate & modestly tax sales, and give decent treatment to addicts. Also, the legal growing of hemp for commercial products and bio-fuels could completely revitalize the Thai economy and be a shining example of a successful "green revolution" to the rest of the world. Drastic measures will be needed if the world is going to stop global warming before most of Thailand & all of Bangladesh is under water from rising seas.
ABAC Chicks Are Hot

Discussion 3 : 18/01/2009 at 05:18 PM3
But not very bright. Guess they get that from their teachers. These poll questions are right up there with the ones where they ask people if they think Thai people should love one another.
nic

Discussion 2 : 18/01/2009 at 12:59 PM2
Maria: I thought that too for a second when I realized it is probably referring to 'ya sen' which is a mild narcotic.
Maria Juana

Discussion 1 : 18/01/2009 at 11:58 AM1
Abac Poll director Noppadon Kannika has no idea where he is talking about and the poll is therefor useless. If you differentiate between marijuana and weed you haven't a clue.

Marijuana is most-abused drug