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''Ya ba'' (, , literally 'crazy pill') is a drug containing a mixture of
methamphetamine Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug use, recreational or Performance-enhancing substance, performance-enhancing drug and less commonly as a secon ...
and
caffeine Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class and is the most commonly consumed Psychoactive drug, psychoactive substance globally. It is mainly used for its eugeroic (wakefulness pr ...
. It was formerly known as ''yama'' (; literally 'horse drug'). Although it is illegal, it has considerable use in Southeast Asia. It is also known as "baba, guti, B2, L, Loppi, Mango, Gajor, abeg, brightness, bedona, ishtup, apple, patthor, dana, poke, bichi, aeroplane, ghora, chiku and kalojori."


Names

The drug has gone by various names across time and locations. In Thailand, it went by ''ya khayan'' ('hard-working pill'), then as ''ya maa'' ('horse medicine'), and then ''ya ba'' ('crazy pill') in 1996. According to an episode of the television series '' Drugs, Inc.,'' it is commonly referred to in north Thailand as ''chocalee'', due to its alleged sweet taste and chocolatey smell. In
Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...
(formerly Burma), it is also called ''kyethi'' (literally, 'button'), ''athi'', and ''palarkar''. In Malaysia it is known as ''pil kuda'' (literally, 'horse pill'). The name commonly used for it in the Philippines and Indonesia is ''shabú''. The name commonly used for it in China is ''ma-goo'' or ''ma-guo''. In
Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
, it is colloquially known as ''baba'', ''guti'', ''laal'', ''khawon'', ‘jinish ’, ''stuff'' or ''maal''. ''Ya ba'' is sometimes called ''bhul bhuliya'' in
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. According to the US
National Drug Intelligence Center The United States National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), established in 1993, was a component of the U.S. Department of Justice and a member of the Intelligence Community. ThGeneral Counterdrug Intelligence Plan implemented in February 2000, ...
, the drug is most commonly referred to in the US as "crazy medicine" and "
Nazi Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...
speed".


Description and effects

''Ya ba'' is typically produced in a round pill form. There are many different versions of ''ya ba'', and the most common are red, pink, orange, or lime green in color and carry logos such as "R" or "WY". They are small and round, roughly in diameter, which means they can be packed inside a plastic soda straw for easy transportation or in a reusable "mint" container. ''Ya ba'' tablets typically are consumed orally and are sometimes flavored like confectionery. Another method of consumption is
chasing the dragon "Chasing the dragon" (CTD) (), or "foily" in Australian English, refers to inhaling the vapor of a powdered psychoactive drug off a heated sheet of aluminium foil. The moving vapor is chased after with a tube (often rolled foil) through which th ...
, wherein the ''ya ba'' tablet is placed on aluminium foil and heated from below, which produces vapors that are then inhaled. The drug also may be administered by crushing the tablets into powder, which is then snorted or mixed with a solvent and injected. When swallowed in pill form the duration of the drug's effect is 8–16 hours, as compared to 1–3 hours when smoked, while the intensity is considerably reduced. The peak of the drug's effect is followed by a comedown period lasting 6–10 hours, during which the consumer may have difficulty sleeping or eating. Many consumers report that it takes them up to 24 hours after consumption to be able to fall asleep. Typical ''ya ba'' consumers are working males, aged 16–40 years. Its use is also common among both female and male sex workers in Thailand and Cambodia.


Production

Myanmar is the largest producer of methamphetamine in the world, with the majority of ''ya ba'' found in Thailand being produced in Myanmar, particularly in the Golden Triangle and northeastern
Shan State Shan State (, ; , ) is a administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos (Louang Namtha Province, Louang Namtha and Bokeo Provinces) to the east, and Thailand (Chiang Rai Province, Chia ...
, which borders Thailand, Laos, and China. In 2010, Burma trafficked 1 billion tablets to neighbouring Thailand. Ethnic militias and rebel groups (in particular the United Wa State Army) are responsible for much of this production; however, the Burmese military units are also believed to be heavily involved in the trafficking of the drugs.


Global usage


Rise and fall in popularity in Thailand

''Ya ba'' tablets were formerly sold legally at fuel stations and used by long-haul drivers to stay awake. The drug was outlawed by the Thai government in 1970. Law enforcement officials said that as of 2002, most of the drug was produced by the United Wa State Army in Myanmar. It was smuggled from Myanmar across the porous border into Thailand. In 2014, it was reported that Thailand's northeast provinces have seen a 700% increase in the number of people arrested for meth since 2008, according to data from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. In 2013, authorities counted more than 33,000 meth-related arrests in the northeast. The rapid growth of ''ya ba'' use in
Isan Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan language, Isan/, ; ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli ''isāna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thai ...
mirrors that which occurred across Asia, which by 2014 accounted for more than 50 percent of global amphetamine-type stimulant consumers. On 16 June 2016, the
National Council for Peace and Order The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO; ; ; abbreviated (; )) was the military junta that ruled Thailand from its coup d'état on 22 May 2014 to 16 July 2019. On 20 May 2014, the military declared martial law nationwide in an attempt to ...
, the
military junta A military junta () is a system of government led by a committee of military leaders. The term ''Junta (governing body), junta'' means "meeting" or "committee" and originated in the Junta (Peninsular War), national and local junta organized by t ...
ruling Thailand, stated that it was planning to decriminalise ''ya ba''.


Bangladesh

In 2006, ''ya ba'' consumption became common for the poor. Although the extent of ''ya ba'' abuse in
Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
is not precisely known, seizures of the drug by authorities are frequent. It is also believed those who use it on a regular basis are frequently involved in the distribution of the drug, either directly or indirectly. Some Burmese
Rohingya The Rohingya people (; ; ) are a stateless Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who predominantly follow Islam from Rakhine State, Myanmar. Before the Rohingya genocide in 2017, when over 740,000 fled to Bangladesh, an estimated 1.4 million Ro ...
refugees are hired by drug dealers to smuggle ''ya ba'' from Myanmar into Bangladesh. In 2016, 359 Burmese were arrested on ''ya ba''-smuggling charges, and up to US$29 million worth of ''ya ba'' was seized by the Bangladeshi authorities. In October 2018 the Bangladeshi government drafted a law which punishes a person who carries a minimum of ''ya ba'' with capital punishment.


Other countries

In Malaysia, it is commonly found in the state of
Kelantan Kelantan (; Kelantan-Pattani Malay, Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate''; ) is a state in Malaysia. The capital, Kota Bharu, includes the royal seat of Kubang Kerian. The honorific, honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' ("The Blissful Abode"). ...
, on the border with Thailand. In February 2010 it was reported that increasingly large quantities of ''ya ba'' were being smuggled into
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
by Thai migrant workers, leading to fears that its use would spread to the Israeli club scene, where ecstasy use is already common. In 2003, the US National Drug Intelligence Center described the drug as having emerging popularity in Asian communities in the US, specifically in California. It was also described as an increasingly popular club drug.


References


Further reading

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ya Ba Methamphetamine Society of Thailand Drugs in Thailand Crime in Thailand Caffeine Polysubstance combinations