tramadol, codeine and valium in Laos

[neophyte1234]

ive been travelling SEA over the past few weeks: Thailand, Cambodia and Laos

I know the drug situation in Thailand and Cambodia. i.e. Thailand is a big no no, and i have done no drugs there. however i am in Cambodia at the moment and have picked up some tramadol, codeine and valium from the pharmacy. which is no problem in this country.

i will be crossing the border into laos in hte next couple of days, i was curious to know if its the same situation in Laos as it is in Cambodia, i.e. can i get the drugs i have now in Laos? Does anyone have first hand knowledge of this?

Should i be worried about bringing my drugs with me, or should i just dump them here nad hope to find new ones in Laos, are the pharmacies there very easy with giving out those drugs?

thanks!

 

[psytaco]

its easy to buy valium in Laos, most pharmacies will sell it to you, and at a cheap price. Got no idea about tramadol and codeine. opium is very prevelent in Laos (but definately not legal).

I would just buy the meds once in Laos, because many may be technically illegal, so dont carry them across the border or take them to the airport.

 

[Beat Narrative]

i have not been to laos but i assume its like everywhere else is asia, the pharmacies are like candy stores, i have heard a lot of cafes sell opium tea as well, which may just be rumour

thailand is only dodgy for illegal drugs, you can buy tramadol over the counter there as well no problem, so i would assume laos is the same

damn i miss asia and their liberal pharmacies, i love tramadol

 

[Mr Blonde]

^ Thailand is also dodgy for OTC drugs. In Phuket, the Tourism Authority encourages pharmacies to sell prescription only drugs like diazepam or Viagra to tourists, but it is still illegal and foreigners have been caught with diazepam by the police and sent to jail either until deportation or for other punishment. A couple of years ago a teenage NZ male was in this situation, searched by police and they found diazepam and sent him to prison until he was deported. If you do buy these things OTC in Thailand, don't just walk around with them; take them back to your hotel to consume and store there.

 

[What was it?]

Same as Cambodia but don't waste your time. The tuk tuk drivers look dodgy but sell good opium and heroin (the H is 80-100% clean, opium varies in quality but is also pure) However don't ever tell anybody what hostel or hotel you stay in.....they might be asking to set you up for a bust.

I bought Valium and Codeine there too, didn't bother with tramadol as i hate it.

 

[drug_mentor]

^ How can opium vary in quality but be pure? That statement seems pretty contradictory... I don't know shit about the pharm situation in Laos but certainly hope to visit there one day, it seems to be one of the last places on earth it is commonplace to obtain legitimate opium which would have to be a treat. Laos seems to have got some publicity lately from a nuber of Australians dieing there from various causes. I know a number have been from tubing so it is probably a good idea to do that sober if you decide to part take.

Laos is a pretty intriguing country to me which I know little about, but it certainly seems to be gaining popularity amongst the SEA backpacking crowd.

 

[DoctorChemX]

Yes i've always wanted to live a life in a country like
laos or southeast asia where drugs are so plentiful,
obviously as you said cambodia is a no-no for any
drug as your putting your life at risk even with posession.

China would be the best country for easy drug access(drooling
wishing i lived in china). Yum Yum.

 

[drug_mentor]

^ Dude Cambodia is regarded as one of the safer places in South East Asia to obtain and use drugs. China I think would be a very bad idea to use drugs and I am not under the impression that the drug scene over there is too great for anything other than K. Given how strict their Government is I think it would take some time for the locals to open up to foreigners about drug use, ofcourse I am only speculating.

 

[Charles Bronson]

China will rape you in the arse if caught with drugs.

I think what DocChemX meant that it would be awesome living in south China, due to SE-Asia and OTC Tramadol/Dihydrocodeine/Codeine/Benzo's, and him taking regular visits down to SE-Asian countries...

 

[psytaco]

Agree with DM. cambodia is definately the safer country in the area to use drugs. you get offered so often that it gets annoying (seriously cant walk out the door of your hotel without been hassled to by some sort of substance). The police by and large dont bother hassling people. Thailand is the place where you have to be extra careful or give it a miss altogether.

Also DM, th latest media beat up makes Laos sound dangerous. its not in the slightest. tubing in Vang Vieng is by and large pretty safe, as long as you dont dive off structures or try and land head first when going off rope swings or flying foxes. I did in various forms of inebriation. One word of warning, if you buy and drugs in a resturant or bar you have to consume them there, as the establishment has bribed the police to turn a blind eye, but once outside the establishment your fair game and can be arrested.

 

[DoctorChemX]

Sorry guys i meant southeast-asia in general
not so much cambodia, yeah i have no idea to
be honest in general, what the drug situation is
like there, i've heard reports that drugs are easily
availible in china, like otc benzodiazepines etc......

What i meant was, there are factories in china that
produce drugs by the tonnage, so they must find there
way on the street somehow, china has 1.6 million heroin
addicts and 680 official methadone govt methadone clinics.

Of course i have no idea about the penalities for posession,
but everyone knows that southeast asia is generally extremely
strict when it comes to drugs, especially trafficking, you'll end up
on a noose.

 

[drug_mentor]

I didn't know china was so good for OTC drugs, have to say I am kinda surprised... Regardless of that I have heard of some epicly draconian "rehab" programs for addicts over there, it actually surprises me they have so many methadone clinics but I certainly wonder what hoops it takes to go through to get on methadone there.

Psytaco I figured the media was just playing up a bit of hysteria around Laos and the few Aussies to die there recently, I just thought it was worth mentioning if one is going to be intoxicated there then they should exercise extra care when undertaking these activities that have resulted in a few fatalities.

 

[What was it?]

^ How can opium vary in quality but be pure? That statement seems pretty contradictory... I don't know shit about the pharm situation in Laos but certainly hope to visit there one day, it seems to be one of the last places on earth it is commonplace to obtain legitimate opium which would have to be a treat. Laos seems to have got some publicity lately from a nuber of Australians dieing there from various causes. I know a number have been from tubing so it is probably a good idea to do that sober if you decide to part take.

Laos is a pretty intriguing country to me which I know little about, but it certainly seems to be gaining popularity amongst the SEA backpacking crowd.

Opium can come from strong batches of plants or weak ones - just like weed or hash made from weed. Hence pure, but of varying quality. Most opium smells the same in Laos, like very strong PST. The gear that smeels weaker is either old or of lesser potency. A good way to tell is to nibble a bit. If it is bitter as hell and wreaks like PST, it is high strength. Also if it is rubbery it is usually weak and that this case HAS been cut with fats. This is however quite uncommon.

 

[What was it?]

I didn't know china was so good for OTC drugs, have to say I am kinda surprised... Regardless of that I have heard of some epicly draconian "rehab" programs for addicts over there, it actually surprises me they have so many methadone clinics but I certainly wonder what hoops it takes to go through to get on methadone there.

Psytaco I figured the media was just playing up a bit of hysteria around Laos and the few Aussies to die there recently, I just thought it was worth mentioning if one is going to be intoxicated there then they should exercise extra care when undertaking these activities that have resulted in a few fatalities.

I would personally give Vang Vien a miss. Or if you go there I'd stick to alcohol. There are plenty of set ups there which just don't exist in the rest of the country. Vientiane, Luang Prabang and the rest of the country are safe for consumption tucked away in a hotel room.

 

[Sir Robbo]

SE Asian drug supply

ive been travelling SEA over the past few weeks: Thailand, Cambodia and Laos

I know the drug situation in Thailand and Cambodia. i.e. Thailand is a big no no, and i have done no drugs there. however i am in Cambodia at the moment and have picked up some tramadol, codeine and valium from the pharmacy. which is no problem in this country.

i will be crossing the border into laos in hte next couple of days, i was curious to know if its the same situation in Laos as it is in Cambodia, i.e. can i get the drugs i have now in Laos? Does anyone have first hand knowledge of this?

Should i be worried about bringing my drugs with me, or should i just dump them here nad hope to find new ones in Laos, are the pharmacies there very easy with giving out those drugs?

thanks!

OK the drug situation here is a fickle one to be sure; Cambodia is easy - I guarantee you can purchase what you need, opioids, valium whatever your choice of poison and stronger (I get for another westerner in BKK by request with back issues who is extremely appreciative). I cross the boarder regularly following a brain injury and chronic migraines while the Thai junta must be thanked for their self centred behaviour to cease all further sale of these 'prescription' meds, obviously after a deal was done with the hospitals. I'm yet to experiment with Laos but am looking forward to it shortly. Even clean marijuana is impossible to acquire in Thailand (in my location), highly educated folk insist on mixing meth/ice or DDT (makes me Ba mak) during the brick packing procedure = sh1t quality and difficult to find anything pure for medicinal purposes (had migraines 15+ years and counting). Only one way to fix that in the distant future but costly; after I grow a jungle. Another way is to apply to the Thai health department for dispensation for your ailment, I shall also attempt before anything and keep it as 'clean' as possible. My medical records are kept on DVD format, a decade of medical records . My belief Is customs know the legitiment drugs are being moved over boarders and don't care, observed via x-ray.