Myanmar

Myanmar is dealing with serious drug-related issues. These include the development
of heroin and opium poppy in vast tracts, the creation and trafficking of
methamphetamine, the trafficking of precursor chemicals over international borders,
and the rise in drug usage and its related consequences. Myanmar holds a significant
position as a global producer of opium, contributing 14% of the crop's overall
production and 20% of its total cultivation.The entire area under poppy cultivation
dropped by 25% from 2015 estimates to 41,000 hectares, while potential opium
output dropped by 14% to 550 metric tonnes, according to data from the 2017
Myanmar Opium Survey. The average opium yield has increased, somewhat
offsetting the decline in the overall area planted to opium poppy farming.
The goal of the Myanmar government's drug control strategy has been to make the
nation drug-free over the last 18 years. In accordance with that goal, Myanmar's
strategy concentrated on reducing supply, including lowering cultivation of opium
poppies. The Myanmar government started formulating a new drug control policy in
2015 after evaluating what needed to be changed. The Central Committee for Drug
Abuse Control (CCDAC), with assistance from UNODC, led a group of over 150
national specialists in a consultation process that the government initiated at that time.
The recommendations that followed were put together by the Ministry of Home
Affairs in the 2017 document titled "Towards a National Drug Control Policy for
Myanmar."
With the participation of government, non-government, and civil society players, the
policy offers a comprehensive strategy to address the drug problem. It encompasses
social policy and health interventions in addition to criminal justice and law
enforcement initiatives, providing a roadmap for advancing opium farmers'
sustainable alternative development and the advancement of global collaboration. The
implementation of a harm reduction strategy for users and a greater emphasis on
compliance with Human rights is a universal concern.
Drug users face jail sentences under the current legal system. Drug-related offences
account for 48% of all 60,000–80,000 prisoners in Myanmar, with the number of
drug-related criminals reaching 70–80% in particular prisons (such those in Myitkyina
and Lashio). The prison system is significantly burdened financially and
administratively by this. Drug users who are incarcerated not only put a strain on the
criminal justice system but also have detrimental social and health effects on families,
communities, and the users themselves, both during their incarceration and after they
are released.
In the meanwhile, there are holes in the law, flaws in the ability of law enforcement, a
deficiency in forensic testing capabilities, and a lack of data and facts to support
policy. In addition, many of Myanmar's regions are experiencing greater difficulty
putting policies and laws into practice, and coordination of stakeholders and activities
is a challenge on a national level. All of these problems make it more difficult to stop
drug manufacturing, trafficking, and usage in Myanmar and the region.
Laos
Due to its physical characteristics, which include its large and rough terrain, porous
borders, and advantageous placement within the Golden Triangle, Laos, a country in
Southeast Asia, struggles with the illegal drug trade. The government has
implemented actions including law enforcement and involvement in regional
cooperation programs in an effort to combat drug trafficking. But difficulties still
exist, especially when it comes to manufacturing methamphetamine and growing
opium poppies, especially in isolated and hard-to-monitor regions. (Unodc, 2009-
2013)
A continuing barrier to the manufacture of opiates is the cultivation of opium poppy,
which is still a source of worry in some parts of Laos. The nation's anti-drug
initiatives are also seriously threatened by the synthesis of methamphetamine, which
is frequently done in covert labs. Effective anti-drug policy implementation is
hampered by a lack of resources, including both manpower and technology.
Moreover, it has been determined that one element undermining the effectiveness of
these regulations is corruption in law enforcement. Eliminating the manufacture of
illicit drugs is made more difficult by the challenges of monitoring and accessing
isolated areas, which traffickers use to operate with relative impunity.(Unodc, 2006)
The National Drug Control Master Plan, which emphasizes a multidimensional
approach combining law enforcement, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, is one
effort being made to address these concerns. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of Laos's
anti-drug laws is still being put to the test by the intricate and dynamic nature of the
drug trade as well as the previously noted difficulties. It will probably take more than
just domestic efforts to achieve sustainable success—in addition to increased regional
cooperation and support.(INCSR, 2016)
Thailand
As a member of the Golden Triangle, Thailand has actively participated in the fight
against drug manufacturing and trafficking. Due to its physical proximity to Myanmar
and Laos, two major actors in the world drug trade, the nation faces both special
opportunities and problems in its efforts to combat the drug problem in the region.1
Thailand's multiphase "War on Drugs" campaign highlights a severe approach taken
by law enforcement against drug users and dealers. In an effort to stop the drug trade,
the government has implemented strict policing methods that have resulted in
thousands of arrests and occasionally extrajudicial deaths. Although these strategies
have produced some short-term gains, they have drawn a lot of criticism for possible
abuses of human rights and questions about how well they work to treat the
underlying reasons of drug abuse.(ASEAN-NARCO, 2022) Thailand has adopted a
policy that is multidimensional in nature, combining legal enforcement with
rehabilitation initiatives. The goal of these rehabilitation programs is to offer
1
(INTERVIEW: Policing One of the World’s ‘Biggest Drug Trafficking Corridors,’ n.d.)
assistance and care to people who are abusing substances. The strategy's overall
success and its effects on the greater issues surrounding drug misuse have been called
into question, nevertheless, due to the emphasis on punitive measures combined with
extrajudicial actions.2
The Golden Triangle has a complicated role in Thailand's war on drugs. The area is a
significant hub for drug trafficking, and in order to combat these issues, Thailand has
been collaborating across international borders with its neighbors. However, the rough
terrain and porous borders make enforcement and surveillance difficult, which
contributes to the continued drug trade.

2
The Road to Rehab: Thailand’s laws and community centres help fight stigma for drug users. (n.d.).
https://unsdg.un.org/latest/stories/road-rehab-thailands-laws-and-community-centres-help-fight-
stigma-drug-users