For young unemployed Yangonite Nyi Nyi, a pseudonym, illegal drugs were a refuge.
After the military coup in Myanmar, young people have been suffering due to a down-swing in employment and the stress of the political and security crisis that has devastated the country.
Little wonder that some like Nyi Nyi have fallen foul of the “cheap-and-easy” drug scene.
“Losing your future is a very unpleasant experience. I was depressed because I did not have a job. As a result, many young people, including me, became addicted to drugs. However, this is not a good choice as drugs can destroy both our brains and our lives,” said Nyi Nyi.
“I am focusing on getting a job now. I cannot cut drugs off completely yet but I avoid heavily using them. For instance, I sometimes use weed (marijuana), which is milder,” he said.
Nyi Nyi said that young people are the ones who suffer the most emotionally due to the political problems that came in the wake of the coup. He stated that no matter how much motivational speakers encourage people to be upbeat, young people will still go after things that make them happy if they feel they are left out of society.
“Young people are not stopping. They try. They struggle. They still lost their way despite struggling. It is because there is no chance that we will be recognized. Even though my family is doing well, being unemployed is pretty bad. Later, I became depressed and miserable. I wanted to escape and be free for a moment. With these pressures, young people get led astray. About a year ago, I went off the rails and just escaped from the steep side of a cliff which could end my life.”
He said that long-term unemployment led him to be depressed so that he mistakenly followed the path of illegal drugs which made him temporarily happy.
Bars and nightclubs where young adults used to dance and enjoy themselves before the coup are no longer places to have fun anymore, according to Nyi Nyi. In those places, drugs are easily accessible, he said.
After the coup, a plate and a pipe are served right after entering some famous bars and clubs, according to Nyi Nyi. Drugs can be easily available at KTV, bars and nightclubs in urban areas like Yangon. In addition, the prices of illegal drugs are so cheap as well that young students can afford to buy them.
“At the bars, we mostly inhale K (Ketamine-based drug) which creates euphoria. After using it, we only want to hear music to dance with. We feel uncomfortable when the music stops playing,” said Nyi Nyi.
“After that, we take WY [widely known as Yaba which consists of a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine]. WY is the worst drug and should not be tried because it can completely destroy your brain. It reduces the appetite and creates insomnia. The user starts becoming suspicious of people and always feels someone is stalking him or her. Illusions are created. There was an incident where a friend stabbed his friend sitting next to him with a knife. Later, the drug user might not feel comfortable with his or her family as well. And the drug user cannot talk with others because he is always angry. It can really destroy your brain and your life,” said Nyi Nyi.
He said now is the easiest time to buy illegal drugs given their cheap price in Myanmar. Previously, the price of Yaba, was 2,000 Kyat per tablet (less than $1) while, at present, the price is around 500 to 1,000 Kyat per tablet and the buyers sometimes get free drug tablets.
“In the past, the ICE drug, which is an amphetamine-based drug, had a price of 60,000 – 70,000 Kyat per kilogramme. Now, the price is only 30,000 Kyat per kilo.”
Young people including young female adults now also widely use weed or marijuana.
Under the junta, cheap drugs are widely available. Most of the officially licensed clubs and bars are related to the military generals and some are owned by their children.
As an analyst said, on condition of anonymity, the military junta is intentionally distracting youths from the Spring Revolution by using illegal drugs as a weapon.
February 1, 2021 was a watershed. The military coup scuppered the hopes and plans of many young people.
“I am interested in tourism. I was preparing for that field. However, under the coup, all of the tourism businesses have halted. Therefore, everything that I learnt became useless. I tried applying for jobs in other countries as well. However, I was rejected and it made me so miserable,” Nyi Nyi said.
He says severe depression led him to drugs, but he is working to free himself from their grip.
“The important thing is mindset to cut oneself from those things. It was not an easy process. I even went to the hospital for help to overcome drug addiction. Currently, I am preparing for a job interview for a job position in Dubai with a friend’s help,” Nyi Nyi said.
“Because of the pandemic and the coup, almost all young people, not including rich kids, have encountered difficulties. Despite the difficult time, I want to warn young people to avoid using illegal drugs. You might not believe that drug addiction is very bad. But I want to say that if you cannot control yourself after having those experiences, your life can be ruined.”
