Tip of the iceberg: A Bangkok police haul of methamphetamine

More than 80,000 of these cases involved primary school children.

The NPEC described the figures as extremely alarming - especially as they come during concerted efforts to reverse the trend.

Officials for the United Nations Drug Control Programme say the figures underline the failure of authorities to control the spread of a popular form of amphetamine, known locally as "Ya Ba" - or crazy drug.

Security issue

The Ya Ba phenomenon has been described as Thailand's number one national security issue and the NPEC's report explains why.

Random urine tests are performed on Thai students

It confirms that a cheap form of amphetamine being produced in industrial quantities in Thailand and across the border in Burma is taking a stranglehold on the young people of this country.

It also says that efforts to halt its spread are failing.

Of particular alarm to the authorities is the large number of offences among children below the age of 12.

In numerous cases, students sell Ya Ba pills to their classmates in order to pay for their own habit.

Staying up all night

A drug which first gained popularity in the 1980's among long distance lorry drivers and sex workers has clear appeal for the young.

An ethnic Burmese settlement where it is believed illegal drugs are manufactured

Students say it let them stay up all night, either to study for exams or to enjoy the western-style social life that has become popular among middle-class youth.

But the rapidly growing populations in juvenile detention centres are stark testimony of Ya Ba's potential hazards.

While urine testing programmes in schools and other measures seem incapable of halting demand for the drug, equally the army has found it impossible to choke-off the flood Ya Ba pills being smuggled into the country from Burma.

The government has put pressure on Rangoon to cooperate, so far to little avail.