How Bad Is Substance Abuse In Jamaica?
Ask any foreigner about Jamaican culture, and it’s pretty much guaranteed that marijuana will feature prominently.
Never mind our position of great historical significance, our contributions to science, literature, and world culture – in the eyes of the world, the whole island is apparently covered in a permanent cloud of ganja smoke. Rum is likely to feature heavily in the foreigner’s roundup of Jamaican culture. Ok, hands up, we do have a bit of a history with alcohol and marijuana. But is it as all-prevailing as the foreign perception would have it?
Substances And Culture
Cultures the world over use substances socially. From alcohol and caffeine in Europe to khat in East Africa and shisha tobacco in the Arabic world, we all enhance our social encounters with substances which (to varying degrees) enliven us, lower our inhibitions, and bring us together. Jamaican culture is no exception. Marijuana does have a place in Jamaican social culture, but it’s not the all-consuming obsession the world thinks it is for us. Indeed, the authorities tend to be more concerned about our alcohol consumption, as that is more likely to have long-term health effects. Jamaican marijuana culture spiked during the seventies (the heyday of Bob Marley and rastafarianism), but it’s settled to fairly average levels since then. Tobacco and alcohol also have a place in Jamaican culture. A drink with friends and a stress-relieving smoke are welcomed by many Jamaicans, and we’d certainly resent any nannying attempts to take those things away from us! But if it’s getting to the point where drinking and smoking culture is becoming problematic, should we make efforts to curb it? Is there an issue with substance abuse – rather than simple use – in Jamaica?
Substance Abuse In Jamaica
According to the World Health Organization, the economic burden of substance abuse in Jamaica is ‘quite conservative’. The WHO undertook a study of Jamaican substance abuse with full expectations of finding a nation wracked with drug abuse and addicted individuals. Citing high unemployment, an attitude of major drugs-based concern on the part of the Jamaican government, and Jamaica’s geographical position relative to drug-trafficking routes, researchers began with fairly fixed ideas about what they’d find. They were surprised. The economic cost to Jamaica of substances – including healthcare, policing, and social policy – was not excessive. While it was noted that illicit narcotics were contributing to Jamaican mortality rates, the researchers also pointed out that policing measures were clearly proving reasonably effective. However, they also noted that data was at times difficult to obtain (or nonexistent), making things like cross-referencing and full conclusions hard to come by. It’s also worth considering the fact that a lack of economic impact does not necessarily mean that people aren’t using and abusing substances – it simply means that they’re not hitting the system when they do. Nonetheless, those who like to think of Jamaica as a drug-addled dystopia will be very surprised to hear the conclusions of the World Health Organization regarding substance abuse on the island!
Alcohol And Tobacco
One issue of concern is that of alcohol and tobacco usage among the young. It is not at all uncommon for Jamaican adolescents to drink alcohol, often in unhealthy quantities. Alcohol is the substance most commonly used by young Jamaicans, followed by tobacco, followed by marijuana. Worries have been raised in recent years about the propensity for Jamaican teens to drink. Most importantly, it’s very bad for the health to start drinking at a young age – most of us try to give our livers a bit of a head start before we start deluging them with booze! However, it can also lead to antisocial behaviour. This is bad at any age, but when the perpetrators are adolescents who are already somewhat incapable of controlling their emotions (and even actions), the consequences can be quite nasty. If Jamaica needs to work on any aspect of substance abuse, it is the propensity of our young people to seek out and recklessly drink alcohol. Tobacco – with its dreadful health implications – is also a matter of concern for our youth. The younger you start smoking, the less chance you give your body to grow up healthy. However, Jamaica is hardly unique in struggling to keep its teens off the booze and away from the cigarettes! All in all, despite what the popular international stereotype would have you believe, we Jamaicans are actually reasonably clean-living!
Article written by Helen Griffin
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