High on longkong

Teenagers in the South have been using the leaves of the longkong tree to concoct a new illicit drug, a security taskforce member has revealed.

Dubbed "8 x 10", the new substance also contains methamphetamine.

"We found this concoction during a recent crackdown on Kratom leaves, which are used as a stimulant," says Lieutenant Thanu Nuangutai, a member of the taskforce under the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

Longkong is indigenous to the South.

 '8 x 10' multiplies

"We first found the longkongdrug concoc¬tion in Songkhla, but soon discovered it in Ranong, Chumphon, and Surat Thani," says Thanu.

Yupin Ongart, direc¬tor of Ranong Youth Observation and Protection Centre, says that all the young delinquents sent to her facility this year have been involved in drugs.

She adds that family problems ware the main reason why youths turned to drugs.

"Youths from families that are warm and caring tend to have immunity against drugs and other social ills."

The ISOC is planning to offer training and advice to local youths in Ranong and Chumphon on how to avoid getting involved in drugs and other antisocial behaviour.

The training will cover 600 youths aged 14 to 25 years.