Demons That Destroy Body and Soul... 'Young Souls' Fall Even More Easily [News Inside 2]

<2> Drugs Destroy the Next Generation
Last year, 649 teenage drug offenders
More than double compared to 2020
67% increase in twenties, 44% in thirties
Distribution structure using digital platforms
Higher risk of relapse among younger age groups

A twenty-year-old man was caught smoking marijuana at the end of last year and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, suspended for two years. He first tried marijuana in December 2022, when he was eighteen, and the following year he was granted a suspension of indictment under the condition of probation. However, there was leftover marijuana in his home, and in the end, he could not resist the temptation.

Last September, a minor female student received a suspended sentence. She was punished for using methamphetamine. She began using drugs with her boyfriend. Although she was investigated once for methamphetamine use, it was difficult for her to quit. An investigation by law enforcement revealed that she had used methamphetamine dozens of times.

Drugs are like demons that destroy the body and soul. Yet, the reality in Korea today is that the younger the person, the faster and more easily they fall into the clutches of these demons.

According to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office on May 14, the number of teenage drug offenders rose from 313 in 2020 to 649 last year, more than doubling. During the same period, the number of drug offenders in their twenties increased by 67%, from 4,493 to 7,515, while those in their thirties rose by 44%, from 4,516 to 6,481. The rate of increase in drug offenders is much higher among younger age groups.

Until 2020, drug offenders in their thirties made up the largest proportion among those in their teens to thirties, but now those in their twenties have taken the lead. Looking at drug offenders across all age groups, the total number was 23,022 last year, a decrease of 16% from 27,611 in 2023. However, among teenagers and young adults, the numbers continue to rise. As a result, the proportion of drug offenders in their teens to thirties increased from 51.6% in 2020 to 63.6% last year.

'Digital affinity' becomes 'drug affinity'

Why are drugs spreading so rapidly among young people? Experts point to the shift from face-to-face, organization-based drug distribution to methods using digital platforms. This new method enables small-scale, anonymous transactions, making tracking difficult.

For example, in so-called "drug rooms" operated on messenger applications such as Telegram, sellers provide information on drug types, prices, and delivery methods, distributing drugs anonymously. Features such as automatic message deletion and IP (Internet Protocol) masking limit the reach of law enforcement.

These days, drug payments are often made using virtual assets, which are difficult to trace. Because money laundering is easy, global drug organizations use these methods. The minor drug offenders mentioned earlier also contacted sellers through Telegram and paid for drugs with virtual assets. They then obtained the drugs using the "throwing" method, such as hiding drugs behind an apartment air conditioner unit.

Methods of obtaining drugs are evolving

Among young people, the "throwing" method is widely used to obtain drugs. In this method, drugs are hidden in a specific location, and the buyer is informed of the location. No face-to-face contact is necessary. Drug distributors frequently change transaction locations, making tracking difficult. A narcotics investigator at a Seoul police station said, "The throwing method, such as hiding drugs in unmanned delivery lockers, is already well known, and we are making arrests and tracking these cases. Recently, there was a case where a large quantity of drugs was buried in a mountain area, which made tracking very difficult due to the nature of the terrain."

Both drug suppliers and consumers are using digital technology and constantly changing their meeting methods, playing a game of hide-and-seek with law enforcement. Telegram, which has become a channel for drug distribution, has reportedly begun cooperating with Korean law enforcement since the fourth quarter of last year. However, Telegram is not the only platform. According to law enforcement, Chinese drug dealers mainly use the Chinese messenger app WeChat. These dealers have not yet cooperated with Korean authorities. One narcotics investigator said, "Drug crimes involving Chinese nationals continue to spread. It is virtually impossible to catch the top-level dealers in China, and we need to arrest the mid-level dealers using WeChat domestically, but WeChat rarely cooperates."

Drugs used at a young age increase recidivism

The younger someone is when they start using drugs, the higher the risk of repeat offenses. The saying "Old habits die hard" is not just a clich?. The number of repeat drug offenders increased from 5,710 in 2019 to 9,058 in 2023. This cannot be separated from the rise in drug use and crime among young people. The one-year recidivism rate for drug crimes is 44%, higher than the overall crime average of 39%. In particular, this is much higher than the recidivism rates for common crimes such as theft, robbery, and violence, which range from 10% to 20%.

Experts say that rehabilitation facilities where young people in their teens to thirties who have fallen into drug use can receive intensive treatment from the outset should be established, and related professionals should be trained to help prevent relapse. Kim Dowoo, a professor of police studies at Kyungnam University, said, "The earlier someone is exposed to drug crimes, the more likely it is to become a chronic problem, so it should not be approached simply. Unlike school violence, there are virtually no treatment or correctional programs for juvenile drug offenders, so urgent measures are needed."