The statement was made at a lecture designed to raise people’s awareness of drug related problems and persuade people to stop or decrease their drug usage. The event was held at the Shan Literature and Culture Hall in Taunggyi the capital of Shan State.

Daw Cho Mya Oo from Cherry-Poanyake network explained that though it is men who take drugs it is women who often suffer the consequences.

She said: “Although women are staying at home we have grievances against our husbands who are drug addicts. People alone cannot fight against drug abuse. To really decrease it [drug abuse] the government has to show more responsibility.”

Nam Kham, a participant, said that when the authorities could not arrest a husband they would arrest his wife, even if she was pregnant, which is why they [women] give birth inside prison.

She said: “I do not know about the situation in other states, but women from Shan State are the ones most affected by drug related problems. When the authorities attempt to arrest a husband if they do not succeed they will arrest his wife. Although I do not know the exact percentages for these kind of drug cases there are women who give birth inside the jail.”

U Aung Zay, one of the organisers of the lecture said that in many areas of Shan State drug abuse threatens the development, intelligence and life expectancy of youths. Their relatives are also facing severe problems.

He said: “We have seen the dangers of the drug problems since we were young, but it was not widespread like it is now. Whether in villages or towns the dangers of drug abuse has become more of a threat to the youth. That is why we organised this awareness raising lecture, because we feel sympathy towards the families affected by problems relating to drug abuse.”

U Nay Myo from Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS) said: “There are farmers who sincerely do not think growing poppy is illegal. Because they have paid tax to the authorities to grow poppy they still assume that growing poppy is legal. I feel so sorry for the youth because half of the university students become gambling addicts and the other half become gambling addicts and drug addicts

There were over 2,000 cases related to drug abuse in Shan State during 2014 said Col. Win Tun at a Shan State Police press conference. He also said that though the area of poppy fields that the authorities have destroyed has increased there has also been an increase in the areas growing poppy in Southern Shan State according to local residents.

Burma is notorious for producing and dealing drugs and Shan State is the area most threatened by drug abuse.

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI