Beginning with the recent drug-related incidents involving celebrities, there are growing concerns about the drug problem in South Korea, once called a "drug-free country." It can no longer continue its reputation as the issue has also spread to the public. The seriousness of this drug abuse is not limited to the country. It is troublesome for the international community as the number of drug producers, types of drugs produced, and the number and related crimes are increasing, and the age of the people affected by drugs is decreasing. The Chonnam Tribune, with international students on campus, looked into this issue the world is facing.

How serious are the drug problems in your country?
Jeong Seung-eun (Korea): Korea has recently seen a spike in drug-related crime. The number of drug offenders aged under 18 reached 450 last year, marking a 43.8 percent increase from the previous year. Furthermore, drug crime in the country is diversifying due to the integration of drugs, the dark web, and cryptocurrency. Since a drink mixed with drugs including methamphetamine was passed off to students on the street in Daechi-dong, Seoul last April, as an energy drink developed by a pharmaceutical company, public awareness of widespread drug use has risen dramatically.

Celeste Irwin (USA): The drug problem in the US has been going on for a long time. Especially since COVID-19, there has been an increase in drug use with a decrease in mental health. In June 2023, about 13 percent of Americans, twelve and older, have used drugs within the last month. 25 percent of all drug users of illicit drugs suffer from drug dependency or addiction, and about 50 percent of individuals who have been diagnosed with mental illness also struggle with substance abuse. These days, the drugs are pretty accessible in many different forms. The opioid crisis is an example that has been going on for a long time, which comes from prescribed medicine.

Wei Qiannan (China): Based on the official data, the drug problem in China is not as severe. The National Narcotics Control Commission released a report on the drug situation in 2022 stating that there were 1.124 million drug users. The number of drug users has been currently decreasing for five consecutive years, and this may be attributed to China's strict epidemic control measures in previous years. However, it may be a hidden issue beneath the surface, and the problem is still serious, especially in the border cities and coastal cities.

What is the government doing to regulate drug use?
Caitlin S. (Germany): Chemical drugs such as cocaine and fentanyl are illegal, but some drugs like marijuana are widespread among the young and not considered a huge societal problem in Germany. As is the public perception, the government is also decriminalizing those drugs, trying to pass a bill within a year allowing marijuana plants to have a higher dosage. This perception is due to the medical benefits, not just in Germany but in Europe.

Jeong Seung-eun: With the rising public awareness of drug issues, the government is investing more efforts in investigating drug prevalence and education on drug abuse. A special investigation team was established to crack down on drug crimes, focusing more on criminals targeting minors. Mandating a minimum of 10 hours of drug prevention education annually in Korean primary and secondary schools starting in 2023 is a positive step, but the government’s support for rehabilitation remains insufficient.

Wei Qiannan: Drugs are obviously illegal in China. Drug use violates the Public Security Management Punishment Law and results in administrative detention of up to 15 days and a fine of 2000 yuan. In the case of drug trafficking, regardless of the number of drugs sold, criminal responsibility has been pursued. Moreover, the government widely carries out drug control propaganda and education for essential groups such as teenagers. In my personal experience, every year on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, schools conduct educational activities, gathering students to watch videos about the dangers of drugs and distributing drug control education brochures.

What is the most significant part of solving the drug problem?
Caitlin S.: I think it is important to raise awareness about the consequences of using drugs. The punishment for certain drugs should not be looked down on for sure, and what is just as important is accurate education for prevention and follow-up measures for drug sufferers. People tend to be desperate and hopeless in our lives, especially in our generation, and this also affects drug problems along with the increasing population of smoking and alcohol-addicted issues. Society also has to deal with this kind of cause and effect.

Celeste Irwin: We have a lot that needs to go into the issue of tackling drug problems. I think we should pay more attention to the areas being less focused on, which are the processes leading up to drug addiction and the follow-up measures. Heavier punishments on the drug suppliers, who are creating the problem, are necessary. Since the dealers are also drug addicts, rehabilitation measures are important for them as well as for ordinary addicts. In addition, in terms of education, not only about access to drugs, it is also crucial to strengthen education for those who prescribe drugs to get the drug's medical benefits, but not to lead to unintended addiction. We need to solve the problem through comprehensive measures.

Since the drugs are problematic worldwide, specific situations and countermeasures vary from country to country. In some aspects, they have a shared context across borders. Society desperately needs to focus not only on indicators such as the superficial increase in drug crimes but also to explore the underlying causes and delve into the process of drug-related problems. Some want to justify the use of drugs by claiming the right to pursue happiness, but drugs taken to pursue happiness are only temporary escapes and can ultimately lead to a life of destruction. To pursue enduring healthy happiness, the world must constantly move toward ending the drug problem.

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Jeong Seung-eun, Sophomore, Dept. of Pharmacy, Korea
Wei Qiannan, Exchange Student, Dept. of Communication, China
Celeste Irwin, Exchange Student, School of Electronics and Computer Engineering, USA
Caitlin S., Exchange Student, Dept. of English language and Literature, Germany

By Song Su-min, Editor