The Dark Side of Yaba Addiction : You Need to Know

 

The Dark Side of Yaba Addiction

Many problems arise when you get addicted to substance abuse. The situation is no different for Yaba addiction. This highly addictive and dangerous drug dominates the Bangladeshi drug market. As per reports, over 23 crore yaba tablets have been seized between 2009 to 2021 by law enforcers! And the fight continues to this date. Needless to say, you must know about this deadly drug and its side effects.

The Department of Narcotics Control Bangladesh is tirelessly working to control Yaba smuggling alongside leading rehabilitation centres in Bangladesh to ensure the drug addiction treatment program is effectively working.

What is Yaba?

Yaba is basically a synthetic (artificial) drug stimulant resembling a colourful, candy-like tablet. 

Yaba is mainly made up of the chemical methamphetamine, which is smuggled from China and Thailand to places like Myanmar and Bangladesh, where most of the covert Yaba-producing labs exist.

The other major component of Yaba is caffeine. If this combo of caffeine and methamphetamine was not scary enough, then to raise the danger level we also have some other ingredients that are present in Yaba in varying degrees: salt, lithium from camera batteries, distilled cold medicine, and ingredients for cleaning products!

Statistics Of Yaba Addiction

Refer to the infographic below from The Business Standard online newspaper for important statistics on Yaba:

Source: Business Standard

The Historical Background of Yaba

The history of Yaba dates back to World War II.  Military leaders gave their soldiers Yaba to remain strong, energized, and motivated during fights. This quickly transformed into an addiction among the soldiers.  

The situation worsened as this addiction became something like an epidemic in Asia, especially Japan in the 1950It quickly spread across Asia, and then to the world. 

In the 1970s, the USA illegalized Yaba at all levels. However, in Asia, it was rage and craze among workers and students. One could get Yaba events at local stores, helping its spread among the youth. Thailand was the biggest sufferer of this. 

Today, the addiction remains in many parts of South Asia and Bangladesh also. 

Symptoms Of Yaba Addiction

Detecting a yaba-addicted person is relatively easy. Some significant symptoms of yaba intake are as follows:

• Addicts tend to crave more yaba as the intake continues. Addicts can take as many as 10 yaba tablets per day just to get the “feeling”.
• Feelings of anxiousness followed by tremors in the body or shaky hands/body. 
• Very limited sleep or even not being able to sleep.
• Hunger Reduction, resulting in a significant loss of weight.
• Feeling restless or desperate most of the time.
• Missing teeth, stained teeth, or poor oral care. People who take Yaba have “meth mouth” or very dry mouth, which can lead to dental problems such as gum disease or tooth decay. This gets reflected through their black teeth or even missing teeth. 
• Yaba abusers tend to pick at their skin, unknowingly, which creates red, flaky skin. This can turn into a skin infection in the long run. 
• Yaba addicts feel hallucinations and delusions. 

How Do Stimulants Work?

Stimulants tend to attack the brain and nervous system. The effect gives the consumer a feeling of ecstasy and enjoyment. On intake, the consumer feels energetic, motivated, and hungry for more. His appetite improves, and so does his “perceived” energy. 

Even though this substance comes in the form of a tablet or pill, users usually crush it and intake the powdered form, either through their nose or mouth, for the best effect. It starts “operating” within 5-6 minutes after intake and lasts for hours. 

Side Effects of Yaba  

Some of the more critical and significant effects of Yaba are as follows:

• Feeling of euphoria
• High level of alertness 
• Inability to sleep
• High irritability 
• Increase in aggression/aggressive behaviour
• Losing appetite
• Hot flushes 
• Dry mouth

Also, long-term Yaba abuse can lead to the following serious effects:

• Hallucinations
• Delusional behaviour 
• Psychosis
• Hypertension
• Damage to blood vessels of the heart and brain
• Psychotic behaviour

Is Yaba Dangerous?

Unquestionably, Yaba is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs out there. Untreated, addicts may lose not only their minds permanently but their lives as well. As the stats mentioned above show, the spread is alarming. In fact, the entry of the Rohingya population into Bangladesh from Myanmar has fueled Yaba transport as well.  Mostly because Yaba is produced in Myanmar, where the Rohingyas come from. 

Given the level of the addictiveness of Yaba, its power to increase sexual arousal in people for elongated periods, and its uncontrollable spread, it is a highly dangerous drug.

Stimulant Withdrawal

When someone addicted to drugs for a long period of time discontinues this addiction, withdrawal symptoms may occur. These reactions to reduced drug use or discontinued use include:

• Strong craving to retake that stimulant/drug
• Insomnia
• Tremors and shakiness
• Loss of cognitive function
• Unstable mood changes, sometimes very intense.
• Body aches and chills
• Feeling unusual fatigue during work or prolonged movement
• Anxiety
• Reduced concentration levels
• Feeling depressed

Yaba Addiction Treatment Facility In Bangladesh

Because of the grave nature of Yaba abuse and its spread in Bangladesh, the authorities have taken important steps to overcome this problem. Besides eradicating this illegal business from this country, some mental health institutes provide detoxication support to addicted people to overcome their perils and move on with a new life. 

How AMAR Home helps to treat Yaba Addiction Treatment?

Amar Home is a fully focused drug addiction treatment and rehab center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It helps patients recover from drug addiction with drug testing, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, and aftercare treatment. 

Drug testing helps our clients diagnose cases of addiction and lets us start the rehab process on time. Following this, we provide an inpatient treatment or rehab process for those needing extensive care in a homely setting. We also provide outpatient support to those who can continue working while taking the treatment win. To top these off, aftercare treatment helps the patients continue to maintain a healthy life post-rehab and treatment. We also make sure they do not suffer heavily from withdrawal effects. 

Yaba consumption leads to self-destruction and lifelong devastation for not only the consumer but also the people around him/her. The consequences are very dark and dangerous. Addicted people need to understand that short-term enjoyment only leads to long-term despair. We hope the youth understand that and take immediate steps to end this problem forever.

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