Project Title:  Prevent Alcohol and Drug abuse among the Youth in Society by building the capacity of civil society.  

Background :

Cultural and religious determinants have a great impact on drugs and alcohol consumption among different classes of Bangladeshis. Young people abuse drugs and alcohol due to complex social and peer groups influence, frustration, depression, curiosity, sub-cultural and psychological environment that induce the youths to take drugs and alcohol.  Considerable proportion of indigenous population of Bangladesh consume alcohol for social recreation, ritual and religious purposes. Alcohol consumption in some working classes like workers in morgue, boot makers and tea factory laborers is reported to be higher. Nonetheless, it has been reported that among people with higher income, alcoholic drinking is also popular and is considered as a sign of “modernity” or “westernized life style”.

Drugs and Alcohol and government policies in Bangladesh:

According to the “Intoxicant Control Act” of Bangladesh (1990), alcohol means spirit or liquor of whatever kind (wine, beer), or any liquid containing more than 0.5% alcohol. Specific license is required for establishing a distillery or brewery, possession, storage and consumption of alcohol. Consumption of alcohol is illegal unless for: a) Muslim citizens who receive a permission for alcohol use on a health ground from either a civil surgeon or an associate professor of medicine, b) sewage cleaners, morgue workers, coolie (day laborer) in a tea estate, boot makers and indigenous people residing in Chittagong Hill Tracts or CHT c) international tourists and businessmen who consume alcohol in a licensed bar, and d) non-Muslim citizens (with permit). This act has some loopholes as; the act does not specify the health conditions for which a Muslim may be allowed to use alcohol and the decision rests on the authorized physician. Furthermore, because of the multiethnic background of Bangladesh and to avoid interfering with old traditions and local culture, use of alcoholic beverages was announced as permissible for indigenous people after an amendment to this act in 2001. Therefore, there is a partial ban on alcohol use. It is interesting that only the Muslim citizens are punishable under this act and others are not. There is no minimum age limit for drinking alcohol.

According to the Department of Narcotics Control, children aged 8 to 10 are taking cannabis, cigarettes and glue sniffing while children aged between 12 and 18 were using phensedyl – compound found in commonly used cough syrups and heroin and Yaba pills (Amphetamine type of drug) are also quite popular among children of middle class or higher-middle class backgrounds.

Types of Alcohol and Drugs available:

Different types of beverages with varying alcohol content, available in different parts of Bangladesh. It can be segmented in two ways as industrially produced name as ; Country liquor, Foreign liquor, Toddy, Beer and Spirit. All brands of Carew and company contain 42.8% ethanol. Homemade brews or Local alcoholic beverages called cholai, tari,Pochani, Ekchuani, Dochuani and Bangla Mad consumed by the lower socioeconomic classes.

According to the Department of Narcotics Control, children aged 8 to 10 are taking cannabis, cigarettes and glue sniffing while children aged between 12 and 18 were using phensedyl – compound found in commonly used cough syrups and heroin and Yaba pills (Amphetamine type of drug) are also quite popular among children of middle class or higher-middle class backgrounds.

Noticing that various Newspapers of Bangladesh have reported  that different Upa-Zilas ( Sub district)   of Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh have been Identified as a Red Alert Zones for Drug Trafficking, Crime and Abuse Involving most of the strata of people ( Male, Female Adults and Youth and Adolescent Girls, etc.). This is also evident in the activities of Law Enforcement Agencies, In addition, The World’s largest Refugee Camp for forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals is located in Cox’s Bazar. Crime and drug use within the Camps are Increasing daily which has a Negative impact on the local Host Communities as well.

Drugs & Alcohol-related morbidities:

Critical organ damages due to chronic toxicity of alcohol drinking such as chronic liver disease (CLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma have been observed in different extents in Bangladesh. Long-term effects on liver were studied among indigenous people of CHT with a history of consumption of more than 60 g alcohol in each sitting over 10 years. Alcohol abuse also instigates physical injuries from accidents or violence. 

Discussion:

Estimated prevalence of alcohol consumers in the general population of Bangladesh is low (1.9%). The results were also consistent with low prevalence of alcohol use in countries with Muslim majority. However, we found that the alcohol consumption in Bangladesh is on the rise. Increase in domestic production, increased number of permits issued for drinking and massive amount of seizures of illegal liquor suggest that actual amount of alcohol and Drugs use may be much higher than the official reports. This is probably due to the fact that many consumers purchase alcoholic drinks from illegal vendors and are still unaccounted for.  Higher prevalence of alcohol use among the university students, truck drivers, sex workers, substance abusers, homeless children, indigenous people, and in families with positive history for alcohol drinking, implies the need to formulate cost effective prevention programs for specific society groups and clusters. Targeted intervention among high-risk populations to encourage them to consume alcohol within a safe limit or to quit drinking will be an effective measure.  

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, children between 8-10 are inhaling gum and children aged 12-18 are using phensedyl , a commonly used cough syrup and found in heroin and Yaba pills( amphetamine-type drugs ). These Yaba drugs are very popular among drug users in one of the largest Youth categories. 

Besides regular orientation will be given to the Grassroots community in the working area, Religious leaders, Village Chairman- Members and Leaders, Governments officials, School Teachers, others stakeholders on their role in Prevent Alcohol and Drug abuse. Moreover, by sharing experience with like-minded NGOs  and civil society  making a joint network with them, The Network  will play a  role to prevent Alcohol and Drug abuse through various campaigns: Courtyard meeting , miking , discussion, Day campaign , rally, meeting and shear with others stakeholders etc. These activities will contribute to the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug abuse.