Comparison of illegal drug use pattern in Taiwan and Korea from 2006 to 2014
Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy – September 23, 2016
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Taiwan faces a significant challenge with new psychoactive substances (NPS), particularly ketamine, which saw larger seizure quantities compared to Korea. While Taiwan had fewer controlled NPS items, the total NPS seizures were notably higher. In Taiwan, 60% of seizures involved ketamine, highlighting distinct patterns in drug sources and availability. Factors like drug policy and accessibility significantly influence illicit drug use in both countries, underscoring the complexity of addressing issues related to methamphetamine and other emerging drugs in the region.
Abstract
While the problem of methamphetamine still lingers, NPS have emerged as a new issue in both countries. However, the NPS pattern was different between Taiwan and Korea. Although the controlled NPS items in Taiwan were far less than those in Korea, the quantity of total NPS seizures, especially with ketamine, was much larger in Taiwan than in Korea. Different NPS pattern may also imply they were from different sources. Factors other than geographical proximity, such as drug policy and availability and accessibility to drugs, should be taken into account for the current status of illegal drug use in Korea and Taiwan.