Shows that the situation is out of control. You do not mention what type of drugs presumably meths?

Posted by Fiesty Farang on August 20, 2013 12:13

There is obviously a serious problem so where do the schools go from here? What implications does this have for the future of Phuket?

Posted by Anonymous on August 20, 2013 12:56

Most kids seem to be raised the same way as the dogs are cared for, breed them, feed them and then let them roam around at their own will and responsibility .
It is clearly the parents that are failing in raising their kids and ensuring they get the right values in life....parking the kids with an old relative will not do it. If you want to be a good parent you need to get involved and be a good pack leader.

Posted by Sailor on August 20, 2013 13:04

A real shocker ... but no surprise. The world is riddled with drugs. The penalties simply are not severe enough to deter. I don't think there is any country without this problem?

Posted by Logic on August 20, 2013 13:56

@ Sailor I think your view is totally distorted. Although I would not leave my child with a relative that is because I come from a country that does not have poverty like Thailand. By your reference to leaving a child to an older relative (mostly the grandparents) you clearly cannot relate to living in an area that only farms rice once a year and the culture relies on the daughter mainly to take financial care of the elderly parents. Where the salary might be 8000Baht a month how can they do such or move ahead financially. Thais have issues sure but please do not look down on people that are financially and morally obliged living in poverty and want to improve their life. If you think so badly of Thais why don't you leave.

Posted by Fiesty Farang on August 20, 2013 14:49

Looking at young people here, I'm not surprised at all. All schools and universities should be checked!

Posted by Stranger on August 20, 2013 15:09

- Sailor

I've often thought just the same. Only for of reprimand also seems to be to slap or hit them.

No wonder they grow up to be what they are.

Seriously - 50% of students test positive for drugs, someone being shot at for traffic dispute, gangs of teenagers on motorbikes hunting down older men to rob and assault them ?

The shooting incident in particular got me seriously thinking about how dangerous it really is here and how little risk there is for the shooters to get caught, let alone me being able to do anything to protect myself from such attacks if someone sets out to do it.

Genuinely scary stuff and I don't spook easily.

I fully expect this drug problem to get a "Phuket solution" - meaning all testing is to either stop or results be declared secret.

Posted by ThaiMike on August 20, 2013 15:10

unfortunate that this tech is next door to the police station!!

Posted by another steve on August 20, 2013 15:12

Sailor...you hit the nail right on the head!...Education starts in the home..They obviously aren't getting any

Posted by sky on August 20, 2013 15:58

That is shocking news, even for Thailand. The future doesn't look very promising.

Posted by Michael on August 20, 2013 16:01

It is quite alarming that so many children have been found positive to an illegal drug of unknown origin, but really why is it a big deal?
Education needs to be taught to ALL people from a young age then they can make their own informed decision, if they want it or not.
You can google - geniuses that took drugs -
The war on drugs will never win. The only defence people have is knowledge

Posted by Tbs on August 20, 2013 18:22

Have you had a look at your own homelands recently. This is a global problem and you're being very unfair chastising the Thai system like this. While it is not ideal there are millions of kids here who have been brought up this way and are a credit to themselves and all around them.

Posted by Sudo Nim on August 20, 2013 18:42

@Fiesty Farang, I do not mention Thais anywhere, and do not look down at anyone...richer parents leave their kids to hang out at Central or Jungceylon and that is equally bad, parents need to step up and take responsibility for their offspring and not just hand them to someone else. And yes it is a problem everywhere in the world but not everywhere in the world you test so many students positive for drugs.

Posted by Sailor on August 20, 2013 19:36

A extraordiary failure rate drugs cost money there not given away well maybe the first couple of times,what are their activitys to pay for them one wonders.

Posted by slickmelb on August 20, 2013 19:42

Spot on Sudo Nim. This is a small number of students for the number of schools here so these sweeping generalizations of 'all students' is misguided and illustrates the cynicism and ignorance of the comments, lets hope they get the help they need.

Posted by Jon on August 20, 2013 19:49

Just remember, children are like canoes, more easily controlled when paddled at the rear. I have three sets of friends that are welcome in my home . . . day or night. BUT arrive with your uncontrollable Thai kids, then don't come around please. Manners maketh man.

Posted by DuncanB on August 20, 2013 20:13

- Sudo Nim & Jon

The "news" in this news is the fact that a whopping 50% failed the drugs test. Please quote me any school anywhere in the world where half the students are drug users.

Looking at the pictures of the test kits used

GPO METH - http://www.gccthai.com/index.php?name=news&file=readnews&id=76

one can assume they targeted amphetamine users.

To call 50% a "small number" is so ludicrous it doesn't even warrant a response.

Posted by ThaiMike on August 20, 2013 20:42

I certainly do not disagree that the figure found to be positive is not cause for alarm, of course it is. To ask where else in the world you would get results like is difficult to ascertain as I have no idea where else on the planet schoolchildren have been tested for drugs. Maybe, given these results, it's something that should be carried out.

Posted by Sudo Nim on August 20, 2013 22:14

Thai Mike, it's your fear mongering and sweeping generalizations about all students that doesn't deserve a response. It's alarming in the fact that 100 students tested positive and 50% at 1 school, a technical school that is supposed to teach a trade or life skill and obviously half are learning the drug trade very well. This should alarm the school management and hopefully they make the necessary crackdowns but to make negative generalizations about 'most kids seem to be raised like dogs' is just such and asinine statement that it makes me wonder why some of you choose to stay in such a place.

Posted by Jon on August 21, 2013 06:57

- Jon

My agreement with Sailor on "Kids raised like dogs" had very little to do with this article, as I clearly indicated by stating " I've often thought the same "

It's based on what I've seen here in my odd 10 years.

I never chose to move to Thailand, it was more or less circumstantial and the unfortunate business commitments I foolishly made have kept me here far longer than I ever wanted to.

Fortunately by the end of next year I'll finally be free to recover my investment, pack my bags and leave for good.

I can't wait for that day to come and I bet you there are a lot of "some of us" in exactly the same situation and sentiment.

Posted by ThaiMike on August 21, 2013 07:23

It would have been really intersting to know what type of drug was tested for.

Many are slamming the education of people here, but honestly, when I remember my high school times in Germany, I dont remember anyone who wouldnt have smoked marijuana and I know for a fact that things didnt improve about that.

Posted by Jakub on August 21, 2013 08:46

Instead of moralising over those students, may I suggest the college invites a couple of employers that hire technicians. Just to tell the students how difficult it will be for them to engage students that have drug problems, customers must trust that a technician is reliable. I am sure they will tell the students, from now on, no drugs, we will have to treat you very strictly when looking for job. It is no moralising it is pure facts, that is what I would like the employers to say to the young people who have been mislead by others.

Posted by Bo Jonsson on August 21, 2013 10:54

What about the teachers

Posted by tom on August 21, 2013 11:00

ThaiMike:
A bit off topic I know but recover your investment? I have never yet known a single farang leave this country having recovered his legal investment. All those that I know and know of have suffered a massive loss.

Posted by Pete on August 21, 2013 12:08

Well asked Tom. what about the teachers, I could give a list as long as my body. Authorities you've lost it now Bawaaahaaa you jokers.

Posted by Graham on August 21, 2013 14:01

I'm presuming the test was for Meth. If all drugs were legal, would this really be the choice of drug? Students and adults alike are going to take some sort of drug regardless of the legality, so it is up to us as adults to inform as to the potential dangers (and benefits) on an individual basis. The entire issue should not even be a matter for the criminal justice system. The urge to change ones state of consciousness is natural and as old as time.

Posted by Matty on August 21, 2013 14:45

The school they tested was next to a police station..? ....... Convenient for the students.....
Dear oh dear This place is going to hell in a hand basket very quickly....

Posted by Need some stuff on August 21, 2013 20:04

I wonder if there will be a follow up investigation to the sources of the drugs, sever punishment to dealers that sell to kids.

Posted by mikey on August 21, 2013 21:53

Yes I want to know what was tested for. Hi school, university pot smoking is a national faculty sport in many countries. If they are all nibbling yabaa at the weekend though that's a different matter, 50% is, well, about half by my reckoning. I wonder if these numbers reflect the nationwide state of affairs? Yabaa is not cheap either ... where they getting the money?

Posted by geoff on August 21, 2013 22:48

Sudo Nim

I'm willing to bet good money that if you were to make a similar test in my hometown in Sweden there would NOT be anywhere near a 50% fail rate. Actually, I'm willing to bet my life on it. Stop being a clueless apologist. The situation here is extremely and amazingly dire. There might be some places in the world where you could find a similar rate of drug users, but they will be very few and very far between. This is an exceptional and deeply disturbing case

Posted by christian on August 22, 2013 02:23

Christian, judging by your demeanour your school wasn't too good in tuition of social skills. I may I politely suggest you pore over my comments again and let me know what gives you the right to call me a "clueless apologist". See if you can unravel the transmogrification that my words went through, in your head.

Posted by Sudo Nim on August 23, 2013 09:36