VIENTIANE, 12 September (UNDCP Field office, Lao PDR) - Drug abuse among urban youth is a growing problem in Lao PDR. Use of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS or "ya-baa") rapidly increasing.
In 1999, UNDCP and the Lao government carried out a school survey to measure the extent of drug abuse among students in Vientiane. The findings of this survey were alarming and showed that drug abuse among school children is a widespread problem in Vientiane. Among 17 year old boys, 14.1 per cent had tried ya-baa.
In a follow-up to the Vientiane survey, UNDCP and the Lao Government have conducted two school surveys among 3,534 students in Luang Prabang and 4,884 students in Savannakhet to help assess the nature and level of drug abuse in two urban districts.
The studies show that the extent of drug abuse in Luang Prabang and Savannakhet, although lower than in Vientiane, is a serious problem. In both districts, the most commonly used drug among the students is tranquilizers/sedatives, followed by cannabis and ya-baa. In both districts, the must susceptible age group for taking drugs is 15 to 19 years old and the average age of first-time drug use is 15. Some 5.5 per cent of the students in Luang Prabang have tried drugs at least once. In Savannakhet, 7.6 per cent have experimented with drugs at least once. Factors mentioned in both surveys include lack of family support, weak personality, curiosity and pressure from friends. A very significant link between drug use and child trauma was detected.
Drug abuse is on the increase in urban areas in Lao PDR. School authorities and other relevant institutions need to closely monitor this development and upgrade their knowledge in order to better identify and address drug abuse. Prevention activities will need to be urgently implemented to reverse this negative phenomenon. After the results of the Vientiane survey were presented, recommendations were made which are still valid and further supported by the Luang Prabang and Savannakhet surveys.
"Drug education should be carried out as a part of health education, on the basis of a life skills approach and also through the use of peers; teachers should be trained in recognizing the drug-related behavior of students in schools. Media campaigns should be established in order to raise drug abuse awareness among youth. A national plan for fighting ATS should be established urgently and treatment of drug abuse should include medical, psychological and social approaches. Law enforcement and supply reduction efforts should pay due attention to demand reduction components. School authorities have to be involved and pharmacies should receive reinforced guidelines for providing over the counter drugs."
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