Drug and alcohol use among the Bedouin of the Negev: Prevalence and psychosocial correlates

Gary M. Diamond, Aneese Farhat, Mahmud Al-Amor, Salman Elbedour, Karni Shelef, Rachel Bar-Hamburger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of drug and alcohol use among the Bedouin of the Negev. A representative sample of 821 adults and 440 adolescents were surveyed using the Arabic version of the Israeli National Epidemiological Questionnaire. Almost 14% of adult Bedouins used alcohol and 11.1% used illicit drugs during the past year, with rates higher among individuals living in government settlements than those living in unrecognized traditional villages. Among adolescents, 21.9% used alcohol and 20.4% used drugs over the past year, with rates higher for high school students than for school attritters. Drug use was positively associated with being male, having a tolerant attitude toward drug use, the perception that drugs were not dangerous, being secular, low family cohesion and either low or high family adaptability. These data suggest that drug use is prevalent among the Bedouin of the Negev, particularly among adolescents, who report using drugs such as narcotics, cocaine, and hallucinogens at rates 3 to 8 times greater than Israeli Jewish secular students. School-based and family-based prevention and treatment programs may be most effective for this population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)143-151
Number of pages9
JournalAddictive Behaviors
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2008

Keywords

  • Alcohol
  • Bedouin
  • Drugs
  • Israel
  • Survey

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Toxicology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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