Pubdate: Sat, 18 Mar 2006
Source: Nation, The (Thailand)
Copyright: 2006 Nation Multimedia Group
Contact:  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1963
Author: Wichit Chaitrong
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution (Summary Execution)

THINK-TANK: YOUNG 'MIRED IN JUNK FOOD, PORN'

Junk food, drugs and pornography are having a spiralling impact on the
nation's youth, claims an economic think-tank.

More than 49 per cent of young people over the age of six have a taste
for synthetic snacks, and last year about 42 per cent of six-to
14-year-olds munched their way through junk food every day.

Malnutrition, obesity, tooth decay and other health woes have occurred
because of excessive consumption of seasonings, artificial colours and
preservatives, said Ampon Kittiampon, secretary general of the
National Economic and Social Development Board.

He said an intense social campaign was needed to educate parents about
the dangers of junk food and the authorities should curb advertising
for the deadly treats.

Widespread use of drugs among these groups is causing increased
concern, added Ampon.

According to the report, criminal drug cases have jumped by 35 per
cent in a year to 100,058 while youths in the courts on drug charges
also went up by 25 per cent from 5,310 to 6,542.

Asked why the drug problem had returned after the government claimed
to have killed about 2,000 supposed drug-smugglers, Ampon explained
that control in one area had led to a deterioration in another.

Thaksin's controversial war on drugs in 2002 caused a sharp drop of
53.4 per cent in criminal cases in 2003.

Pornography is also distracting youths from their studies and more
wholesome activities, the board claimed, while some youngsters are
being pushed into sexual offences.

Pornography is available in newspapers and comics and on DVDs and
websites, said the report, and around 13 per cent of primary-school
pupils are found to have access to it.

Children in the North lead the nation in their use of pornographic
comics, followed by their peers in Bangkok, Central Thailand, the
Northeast and then the South.

Troubled family life is blamed as the major cause of youth
problems.

Parents are working harder and spending less time with their
offspring, said Kittisak Sinthuvanich, the board's deputy
secretary-general.

"We find that parents, particularly in the Northeast, have migrated to
Bangkok for work and left their children with elders. Those children
are vulnerable to social illnesses," Kittisak said.
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MAP posted-by: Tom