South Korea’s Drug-Free Reputation is in Danger

South Korea’s reputation as a drug-free nation is in danger. The amount of ‘ordinary people’ using drugs has been rising steadily. In 2015, a record amount of 11,916 arrests were made in relation to drug-related crimes.

According to South Korea’s largest daily newspaper Chosun Ilbo, the number of investment bankers arrested for drug offenses has increased from 4 in 2010 to 18 in 2015; ‘white collar workers’ from 115 to 514; and students from 92 to 139. More than half of all drug-related crimes are committed by those in their 30’s and 40’s. There are also increasing reports of fishermen, farmers and married couples becoming addicted to illegal substances. Drug addiction in South Korea does not appear to depend on class, gender, profession, or income level.

Drug use is heavily frowned upon in South Korea, whether it be narcotics, psychotropics or cannabis derivatives – the three types of categories stated by the government. Due to the limited supply, drugs are not seen as “cool” with South Korea’s youth, unlike Western countries and peer pressure to try drugs is reported to be very low. This is due to the fact most young Korean’s do not have access to illegal drugs.

However, exposure to Western cultures that are more lenient on drug use growing, combined with more young Korean’s travelling internationally, more and more young Korean’s have access to drugs and are bringing drugs back with them to South Korea.

Offering the most comprehensive drugs of abuse screen on the market, Randox Toxicology’s extensive drugs of abuse test menu covers a broad range of classical, prescription and synthetic drugs and drug metabolites.

Utilising our patented Biochip Array Technology, the Evidence range of immunoanalysers have been developed with boundary pushing engineering and are designed to make financial, labour and time savings for the end user. Whilst delivering cutting-edge multiplex testing capabilities, our Biochip Array Technology provides rapid and accurate drug detection from a single sample.

To find our more information visit www.randoxtoxicology.com or email us at info@randoxtoxicology.com

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