As if being led by a delusional dictator and widespread starvation weren’t enough, now North Koreans have to deal with a nationwide crystal meth epidemic.
A study in the Spring 2013 edition of the North Korea Review, explains how the drug — known colloquially as “bingdu” or “ice” — has displaced opium as the country’s drug of choice, especially in the northern regions, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The drug which was originally manufactured in government factories for export to China and other countries, has ended up inundating the domestic narcotics market.
The shift occurred over the last decade, as poppy fields disappeared, meth dealers were quick to fill the void.
“Almost every adult in that area (of North Korea) has experienced using ice and not just once,” says study co-author Professor Kim Seok-hyang. “I estimate that at least 40% to 50% are seriously addicted to the drug.”
Unsurprisingly, there are no official stats concerning the prevalence of illegal drugs in North Korea, and the study is the first to attempt to quantify the problem.
The study will do nothing to change the bleak perception most have the country, portraying crystal meth as an easy to get form of entertainment.
“Doing ice was a social thing; it was a lot of fun,” an anonymous former user who fled the country for South Korea, said.
The crisis is also compounded by the fact that many users don’t view the drug as addictive.
“They say you can stop it whenever you want. All you need to do is sleep all day long, for three or four days,” Prof. Kim says.
Despite this belief, many addicts are forced turn to other black market drugs to combat the symptoms of withdrawal and get clean.