Cannabis use rises among young people in Arakan State

By Admin 23 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 December 2024, Sittwe

Locals say cannabis use is becoming increasingly popular among young people in Arakan State, and that authorities need to take steps to curb its use.

Cannabis is mostly grown in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw and Buthidaung townships, and its use is reported to be higher among young people in Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships.

“People from Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships come to buy cannabis from me. The buyers come to me almost every day and they are mostly young people,” said a cannabis grower in Kyauktaw Township.

Young people in Arakan State say that amid the war, they have lost hope for a future that includes employment and education opportunities, and are turning to drugs as an outlet.

“Weed is smoked by most young people using water bottles rather than smoking it. Hemp is boiled for about 20 minutes and then mixed with other liquids or drinks and drunk like alcohol,” said a youth from Pyaine Chaung Village in Kyauktaw Township.

As a health concern, long-term use of cannabis can lead to memory loss, depression, and a variety of other issues.

The concerns extend to negative social, family and community impacts.

“If young people use drugs regularly, it is certain that their educational and employment opportunities, as well as their mental and social well-being, will be affected. These factors will undermine the future of the new generation of Arakanese young people,” said a female social activist in Mrauk-U.

Authorities need to crack down on the excessive use of cannabis in Arakan State, critics of the drug say.