Survey shows many users turn to narcotics out of mental distress

As a part-time call girl, university student Nok realises that she can't choose her customers, but when she goes with "highly unpleasant" men, she needs to drug herself with Ice pills to get the job done.

Nok's story was revealed in line with an Abac study of the Thai narcotics situation in the past year.

In the survey conducted from January 2007 to January 2008, 40,000 people across the country were interviewed about drug situations around themselves.

Apart from labourers' need to use stimulants to cope with hard work, the study found that many users did not enjoy the kicks but needed the drugs to cope with psychological distress.

The study found that youths from well-to-do families tend to use more drugs in private parties - a practice  once found only among celebrities.

Like in Nok's story, female sex workers need drugs to cheer themselves up to make themselves available to less preferred clients.

"All my customers are not good-looking. Most of them are old, even older than my dad. Most of them have bellies, not to mention their kinkiness during sex, some of which are way beyond crazy," she said.

Nok said Ice pills were easy to use by mixing them with drinks. The pills work fast and are highly available, she added.