A youth group known as YOUnified Mawlamyine, organized a Youth Against Drugs forum at the Myanmar Medical Association Venue in Mawlamyine on December 5th. The event was attended by over 60 university students.
Chairman of the Mon State Narcotics Rehabilitation Association, U Zaw Moe Aung, spoke at the forum saying more than 40 percent of young people between 12 and 20 years old are using drugs.
“I have seen that the condition of the addicts is very bad. It is because many children are [becoming] addicted to drugs [at an early age]. There is [a rate of] about 40 percent drug addiction in Mon State,” said U Zaw Moe Aung.
However, there are no official Mon State government figures of drug use to confirm this.
Those attending the event heard that the main drug users are children over ten years old and those who have dropped out of school. According to some reports, many are living-hand-to-mouth with their families and are struggling for survival, often using drugs to save family the cost of a meal.
“Some students use a kind of medicine that helps them to study. Without the drug, they would not be able to study well, and parents never notice that. A few grade 10 students dropped out of school for one year. They retook the examination last year and managed to pass it,” added U Zaw Moe Aung.
If drug addicts wish to quit, they can contact the association to obtain treatment from the drug rehabilitation center. The association has been collaborating with civil society organizations to provide drug-awareness educational services.
“Young people like to try new things. I have seen that the temptation of trying new things leads to a serious addiction,” said 20-year-old Ma Si Si Moe.
Drugs are being widely used by both young men and women. Drug awareness education services are not yet available in rural areas while the number of drug users is increasing, according to U Zaw Moe Aung.
