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Soaring Asian meth demand drives record production: U.N.

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Doesn't this at least indicate that harsh punishments for drugs still don't prevent their use and the growth of supply and demand. about time the world stopped with the prohibition approach and legalised but regulated drugs

8 ( +9 / -1 )

China is one of the world's biggest producers of methamphetamine, also known as Ice, and of its precursor chemicals. Blame it on the greedy government. To stop this problem the government needs to regulate and strict control over the Pharmaceutical and Chemical firms. This problem will not go away until Chinese government address this issue.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I say let the rich do whatever they want. It's their lives, they are responsible of their choices, they need to learn how to deal with addiction, or die.

In theory I agree with you, legalize everything and let Darwin sort it out.

The trouble with letting them do whatever they want is that it not only put their lives at risk, but also they lives of innocent people.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Amphetamine was first made in 1887 in Germany and methamphetamine, more potent and easy to make, was developed in Japan in 1919. Methamphetamine went into wide use during World War II, when both sides used it to keep troops awake. High doses were given to Japanese Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Damien15 meth transcends all economic levels so your claim is incorrect. Many high earning people use meth as well as those in poor situations.

It is often used recreationally on weekends by office worker types and often used daily by low economic addicts.

The drug is highly addictive and is in epidemic proportions in some countries, NZ for example has a large problem with it and it crosses all sections of society, the cash that can be made form making and selling it is incredible and the effects from using it can give people huge energy and mental boosts. Often days or weeks without sleeping or eating and people can perform exceptional feats while high on it.

This drug is a filthy dreadful scourge and it eats people from the inside out physically, emotionally and will destroy their soul.

I hope you never ever have a family member or loved get tied up with this terrible drug and you have watch them spiral into oblivion, just look at the before and after photos on google of meth users you'll see what a change it can make to people.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So much for the honorable kamikaze pilot that you see in the movies, it was more like a terrorist jacked up on herion like they do in middle east at road blocks.

Heroin is a depressant. Meth is a stimulant. Different things altogether.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Anyone who has read history knows that prohibition does not work, actually makes it worse! This is an example of the process. It's a health issue, should not be a legal issue.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

All the more reason to legalize cultivation and use of marijuana.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Interesting that the article completely misses any mention of DPRK, ie North Korea. Meth produced there and smuggled all over Asia is very well known.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

John Galt I have to agree with you on this point .

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Some people do meth as a youngster and walk away from it...Then some people get addicted to it, ruin their lives, and go to prison, and are still there, or on their way back soon...The best choice is to stay away, or as with the ganja man, if your going to throw yourself at something, Plant the seed of life and knowledge...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

damien15: Meth is done by people who are either poor and hopeless, or rich so no need to work. People with daily jobs don't, can't do meth. Just because they can't finction.

First, people with jobs do meth. I've known a few. They're called functional addicts. Second, getting addicted to a drug like meth and doing nothing about that addiction is a good way to end up poor and homeless.

I say let the rich do whatever they want. It's their lives, they are responsible of their choices, they need to learn how to deal with addiction, or die. For poor people, who have no jobs and no hope, well, they are the problem.

I guess I'm a little confused. Are you advocating a different set of drug laws for the rich and the poor?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

WakarimasenMay. 21, 2014 - 10:06AM JST Doesn't this at least indicate that harsh punishments for drugs still don't prevent their use and the growth of supply and demand. about time the world stopped with the prohibition approach and legalised but regulated drugs

In theory I agree with you, legalize everything and let Darwin sort it out. However, China is one example of why this will never work out. 1.5 billion people organized by a government with antiquated attitudes to everything. There's no reason for their government to want to sort this out, they have no social net to catch them because there are a dozen new people to do the work of every person who falls to drug abuse. No net means the expenses are negligible. Drug crime is probably contained in a limited fashion by the vast police force that already exists to suppress civil unrest. Executions of smugglers are a convenient way to appease the peasantry. In any case Meth is very unlikely to be smuggled in since everything needed to manufacture it is readily available anywhere, and especially in China.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Custom should check the Nigerian and Chinese frequent travelers ..! I can see them in Japan , thousands in every city using restaurants , night clubs , shops and scrap yards as cover ...! Near my place there is a small scrap yard run by Chinese ... the same scrap never moved since 7 years .. what does that mean .. it is just a cover.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Drugs are not the solution to any problem, but eventually becomes the problem thereby the real answer is to get the facts and not to take the drugs in the first place. Medicines are drugs so if you don't use them as they are supposed to be used, they can also be as dangerous as illegal drugs. When people takes drugs like methamphetamine, it takes over their lives in varying degrees and can create a false sense of well-being and energy. Long term user may suffer heart and brain damage, psychotic behavior, including memory loss and inability to grasp abstract thoughts. Eventually a hideous look of methamphetamine shows in the scarred and premature aged face of those who use it and you become ugly. In the end it probably is one of the hardest drug addictions to treat and many die in its grip.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"China is one of the world's biggest producers of methamphetamine, also known as Ice, and of its precursor chemicals"

I dont know what your implying, as if china got all this started. The british got the Chinese hooked on herion for profit. As craighicks stated, it was actualy Japan that got the whole meth thing started during the war. So much for the honorable kamikaze pilot that you see in the movies, it was more like a terrorist jacked up on herion like they do in middle east at road blocks.

I suspect, due to the low quality of life in Japan and the unsocial introverted character of Japanese, that there are many meth users in Japan.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

5petals

I do not implied China started all this. Let not go back in time, what we need to do now is address what is happening right now. What I am saying is by quoting the facts that China is one of the biggest producers of precursor chemical and it available freely to anyone who have the cash to purchase them. Do you know how difficult it to get access to this is chemical in the Wests? Many medicines contain this chemical no longer available freely as it used to be. Most of these medicines are now regulated and all sell must be accountable for and a national data base was set up to monitor’s users and sellers. If China is seriously about this problem they this is the paths they should follow. This is a global issue all nations have to cooperate, one cannot go alone. Unfortunately with the level of corruption and greed among the politicians this problem will never goes away.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Meth is done by people who are either poor and hopeless, or rich so no need to work. People with daily jobs don't, can't do meth. Just because they can't finction. I say let the rich do whatever they want. It's their lives, they are responsible of their choices, they need to learn how to deal with addiction, or die. For poor people, who have no jobs and no hope, well, they are the problem. Actually problem is the system that needs people to be this way. Poor, uneducated and hopeless. System would wish that they would work hard with a hope that one day they too will succeed and make enough money to support a family. But, as they are realizong, with a level of hopelessness, they turn to meth.

I also think (and I know this will get me lots thimbs down, but I don't care) legalization of cannabis will remove the need for most dangerous, chemically processed drugs, like meth and cocaine. Look what Uruguay is doing and succeeding to remove black market drugs off the streets.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Should the headline read 'stimulants'?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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