Recreational Drug availability/abuse in Hua Hin

[MrPlum]

Every now and again someone will comment on the drug problem in Hua Hin and how available drugs are. I haven't ever come across any drugs myself and wondering whether this is a myth. Without naming names (shouldn't have to say that) do any members know what the drug scene here is like?

What drugs are being taken, how widespread is it and is addiction a problem here?

[Homer]

What drugs are being taken, how widespread is it and is addiction a problem here?

Som Tam, Ubiquitous, no.

[Spitfire]

If this thread survives formal scrutiny from admin then you'll probably see most people say that the main problem here in LoS is that of ya-baa...which we call 'speed'.

You (or me), as a foreigner won't see/hear so much about it as it's often taken by locals you will have nothing to do with, or won't come into contact with, such as builders/public transport drivers - probably why they all run away when they have an accident - /scooter boys and goodness knows who else.

Imo, it's one of these 'Thai business' things you don't see much of but I'd say the problem is far worse than many realise and that the streets are fairly awash with all kinds of stuff.

[H2ODunc]

You will find most drugs anywhere you go. They are never far away. The main problem drug here in Thailand at present is yabaa . It is meth Amphetamine. It is to speed what crack is to cocaine. You will also get the grass heads everywhere so again that is always about. It might have been fine to mess with them back home where you would get a simple caution here is a totally different matter. get caught with them here and it is going to cost you either a lot of money or a spell in the monkey house. I try to go and visit the Brits in the jail here on Samui. take a couple of BBQ chickens and some pies and a collect up a few books for them. The last time I was there there were 3 guys that had been busted at the full moon party. Only young lads here to have a holiday and a good time and now it has all gone pear shaped.
I used to work with an American guy that like his drugs. he used to say put him anywhere in the world and give him an hour and he could score.
they are about Mr Plum, its just unless you are looking you don't often see them.

[richard]

My daughters frequented a bar on the beach just up from the Sofitel. A lot of you will know it and it has changed but a group of drunken rastis used to gig there one of who was a good tattoo artist in Binta some years back.

I was politely warned by a friendly tourist policeman to tell my daughters to stay away as they were into drugs and handed out freely (I know, no such thing as a free lunch). Of course my daughters poo poo'd it as me being a silly old papa. When I pointed out that this was not the UK and they as farangs were perceived to have money or parents with money and could be targeted.

I have even been in a binta bar and watched a transaction take place between a Canadian tourist, the mamasam and a taxi driver. It's all around. The danger is if you get tangled up in a scam whereby you can be the target with collusion between the police and a dealer. Police don't give a sh1t if money is to be gained

[H2ODunc]

I tell the people I meet here who are heading to the full moon party never to buy drugs. The general set up is they buy some drugs from a guy on the beach or in a bar and a minute later they are getting searched by the police. The guy who sells you the drugs tells the police and he gets the money from you and the drugs back from the police. The police then get to shake down the stupid Farang and if he can pay he will if not they end up here in the monkey house which believe me people isn't very nice at all and will certainly ruin your holiday.

[usual suspect]

It seems more & more Bar-girls are taking drugs now..& become quite aggressive as the night goes on..not good.

[BaaBaa.]

I've seen Es and Coke doing the rounds in Bintabaht and Karaoke.

Weed is everywhere.

It's about as easy to get as it is in England.

[BaaBaa.]

If this thread survives formal scrutiny from admin then you'll probably see most people say that the main problem here in LoS is that of ya-baa...which we call 'speed'.

Yaa Baa is not speed. It's more like Crystal Meth. Far far more nasty than the the UK "speed"

[Super Joe]

The main problem drug here in Thailand at present is yabaa . It is meth Amphetamine.

I believe that's been overtaken now by crystal meth (ice). It's far stronger, far more addictive and cheaper. They will sell a couple of hundred Baht's worth, it's a rich persons 'designer drug'. I'm not diminishing the seriousness of the yaba problem but believe ice is more of a concern. The government have tightened the law up so much on it that currently 'possession' of just 0.375g pure, which could be less than 1g of normal street cut ice, automatically means you have it for the purpose of trading. Given that they've probably got very few users here... everyone's a dealer


SJ

[Super Joe]

Yaa Baa is not speed. It's more like Crystal Meth. Far far more nasty than the the UK "speed"

Speed is amphetamine, yaba is methamphetamine. I don't know the real differences except meth is stronger. So ice and yaba are both methampthetamine, but yaba comes in piill form and ice is the far stronger crystal form. The active ingredient is this psuedoephedrine, hence all the new laws and raids on pharmacies and corrupt medical centres, hospitals and the like here.

SJ

[BaaBaa.]

But Yaa Baa isn't speed as in the UK , which is a white powder.

"Ice"/Crystal Meth looks like nasty, evil stuff.

[MrPlum]

It seems more & more Bar-girls are taking drugs now..& become quite aggressive as the night goes on..not good.

Have you tried using a deodorant?

When I first came here I heard the odd story of drugs being 'found' by Police on motorcyclists but have not heard anything in the last few years and certainly not in Hua Hin. It does seem odd, with such extreme penalties, why any foreigner would take the risk. Is it boredom?

[Takiap]

As others have said, if you want drugs, you will be able to find them. Yaba is still the leader simply because it's cheap. It seem more and more Thais are opting for ice now despite the fact that it costs more. Apparently yaba used to be legal here, or at least tolerated, and was routinely taken by long distance truck drivers.


As BaaBaa has said, weed is common in Thailand, and is not seen to be to serious, at least not when it comes to Thais that get caught with small quantities.


Personally, I would say Thailand is no worse than elsewhere. The "Thailand has a serious drug problem" hype is simply political. After all, if there isn't a major drug problem, there's no need for a "War on Drugs", and that's a wonderful vote grabber.

[Super Joe]

But Yaa Baa isn't speed as in the UK , which is a white powder.

No you're right, it's not the same. I was agreeing with you, ie: yaba is meth, speed is not meth.


SJ