A recent study has discovered that marijuana is popular drug of choice among students in the Northeast, a seminar held at Khon Kaen University was told yesterday.
Of the 11,056 Isaan students surveyed between 2007 and 2008, 13 per cent of the males admitted to using marijuana, krathom leaves and amphetamine pills in that order, while 1.6 per cent of female students said they used marijuana, glue and other sniffing substances, amphetamine, ecstasy pills and krathom leaves.
The overall percentage of drinkers stood at 35 per cent, and smokers at 21.5 per cent, said Assoc Prof Manop Khanato, a KKU lecturer who conducted the survey.
Smokers face a greater risk - 21 times - to getting addicted to drugs than nonsmokers, and the risk is six times more in case of drinkers compared to nondrinkers, the survey said.