Myanmar: Communities face their challenges together

Although Myanmar is the world's second largest producer of opium poppy, production is declining. Many farmers have left their poppy fields and returned to their villages. The residents of northern Shan State, struggling with endemic poverty and drug addiction, have united in their efforts to improve their quality of life and to assist families with special needs.

Nearly 130 children-mostly orphans-get schooling, clothing, food and health care from their communities in northern Shan State, on the border with China. Many of these children, such as 5-year-old Baem Yain, have personal stories that illustrate just how devastating drugs can be and how collective efforts can make a big difference.

Baem Yain's mother is in prison for peddling drugs and his father, a drug addict, has abandoned him. The boy is currently living with his grandparents and is able to attend primary school with his village's assistance. Baem Yain's grandfather, aged 70, has left his work in the poppy fields and is now a watchman at the Namtaung Village Community Centre.

The region has been hard-hit by drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse.

Although Myanmar is still a major producer of illicit opium, northern Shan State has registered a downward trend in production since 2002, with some areas declaring themselves poppy-free. But according to Shariq Bin Raza, UNODC Representative in Myanmar, the reduction in poppy production does not amount to a solution: "More important is the sustainability of this reduction, which can only come when the ex-growers' families and communities can sustain their livelihoods without depending on illicit crops."

Like many other children in his village, Baem Yain is growing up without parents because of their involvement in drugs. His grandparents care for him with the community's help.

People struggling to feed their families and make a living sometimes resort to dealing in drugs or using drugs themselves. Some may even go back to cultivating opium poppy because they have not found viable alternatives to survive. 

Despite the many difficulties, communities are not giving up hope. They are coming together to help families like Baem Yain's. UNODC is supporting 30 northern Shan State villages in their efforts to prevent drug abuse and HIV/AIDS, as well as increase their access to drug treatment and rehabilitation. 

Villages in the Lashio, Kutkai and Muse townships are responsible for planning and carrying out community-based activities such as awareness-raising sessions on HIV/AIDS, trafficking in persons, gender issues, literacy and income-generation with the assistance of local and international experts. Some villagers have also been trained as voluntary social workers to provide drug treatment and after-care services.

Communities also support addicts and their families throughout the difficult period of treatment and rehabilitation, recognizing that drug abuse is a social problem. Drug users are more likely to have unprotected sex and share needles, thus exposing themselves and those close to them to HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other infectious diseases, and many addicts cannot contribute to the family income. Those who are ready to stop using opium and heroin, the two main drugs in the region, are referred to either a hospital or a traditional medicine man. Once they finish treatment, recovering addicts are given the chance to become productive members of society.

Community leaders and action groups are working hard to improve living conditions in northern Shan State. Villages invest the loans they receive on anti-drugs and development programmes. They have also established self-financing farms, commodity shops and rice banks. Elders, women and young people are all involved.

Khyn Hla Munn of UNODC Myanmar contributed to this report.

UNODC is supporting 30 northern Shan State villages in their
efforts to prevent drug abuse and HIV/AIDS, as well as increase their
access to drug treatment and rehabilitation.