Use of alcohol among high school students in Lesotho

The epidemiology of addiction in Sub-Saharan Africa: a synthesis of reports, reviews, and original articles

Use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances is associated with serious social and public health problems, but the extent of the problem in Sub-Saharan Africa is not well known. We set out to review epidemiological publications on alcohol and other psychoactive substances in Sub-Saharan Africa by performing a systematic search of electronic databases and paper records. Ten Sub-Saharan African countries are among the 22 in the world with the highest increase in per capita alcohol consumption. Cannabis, tobacco, and khat are widely used, and use of cocaine, stimulants, and heroin is increasing. More epidemiological research and implementation and evaluation of interventions is needed. Collaboration between African researchers and those in developed countries could help. 

Burden of alcohol use in the Uganda Police in Kampala District

BACKGROUND

Alcohol dependence is one of the leading causes of the global burden of disease. Among members of the Uganda Police Force, alcohol dependence has been a major contributor of poor mental health, poor work output and forced retirement.

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of alcohol dependence and associated psychosocial problems in the Uganda Police Force in Kampala District.

METHODS OF STUDY

A sample of police officers selected by systematic sampling strategy from two large barracks in Kampala District participated. A semi-structured questionnaire designed to elicit information on the perceived impact of alcohol use was used. Prevalence rate was derived from ICD-10 criteria for alcohol dependence, and psychosocial problems in alcohol dependence.

RESULTS

Twenty respondents (19.2%) met criteria for alcohol use disorder, 26.0% met criteria for alcohol use problems and 9.6% reported that their health was poor. Alcohol use disorder or problems were significantly associated with lack of job satisfaction, poor health, problems in implementing personal plans, disciplinary problems, inability to save from personal earnings, debts, and absenteeism from work.

CONCLUSION

One in five police officers met criteria for alcohol use disorder while one in four experienced psychosocial problems related to alcohol use. The results suggest serious implications for the quality of services provided by the Uganda Police. There is a need to establish measures to provide services for those affected, and a further need to establish preventative measures against alcohol dependence in the police force.

A Qualitative Investigation of Alcohol Drinking among Male High School Students from Three Communities in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa

This article reports on a qualitative study using focus group discussions about alcohol binge drinking with tenth grade male high-school students. Groups were run separately with binge drinking and non-binge drinking adolescents in three different communities. The Theory of Planned Behaviour with two additional constructs was used to provide a theoretical framework for the semi-structured discussions and for the analysis of the data. Although the findings are complex some clear differences did emerge between binge drinkers and non-binge drinkers and between participants from the three different communities. The binge drinkers perceived positive outcomes from binge drinking, were embedded within a peer group culture of binge drinking, and found few obstacles of obtaining alcohol. The non-binge drinkers were more concerned with longer term life goals and were motivated to comply with family pressures not to drink excessively. The implications of these findings for preventive programs and for future research are discussed.

Problems and Prospects of Implementing Harm Reduction for HIV and Injecting Drug Use in High Risk Sub-Saharan African Countries

The use and misuse of a broad spectrum of psychoactive substances, including heroin and cocaine, is of growing concern in many African countries. Approximately one-third of global HIV and AIDS cases are reported from Africa, but injecting drug use has not yet been documented as a causative factor. The drug supply control strategy has recorded only limited success in Africa, and the currently adopted demand reduction programs are beset with many problems. In this paper we review possible constraining and facilitating factors in the adoption of harm reduction approaches in high risk sub-Saharan African countries. We conclude that appropriate needs assessments are urgently required to establish the extent of problem drug use and of injecting. This exercise may identify clinical and psychosocial problems that could benefit from an intervention approach based on a combination of the principles of harm reduction and demand reduction.

Alcohol advertising in developing countries

Alcohol consumption appears to be increasing in some developing countries. Groups who previously did not drink alcohol, such as young people and women, are now increasingly beginning to drink. Recent anecdotal observations by researchers in Lesotho suggest that aggressive advertising may play a part in encouraging drinking among the young. This commentary suggests that surveys of alcohol advertising and youthful drinking in developing countries would be particularly useful in monitoring the influence of alcohol advertising in rapidly expanding markets. Recent studies have described simple measures of awareness and appreciation of alcohol advertising which discriminate between under-age drinkers and non-drinkers. These measures could be readily adapted by researchers responsible for the design of surveys of youthful drinking.

Use of alcohol among high school students in Lesotho--a health promotion perspective

A recently published article on alcohol use among young people in Lesotho highlighted an important public health issue--the changing pattern of alcohol consumption in many Third World countries. In this commentary I wish to consider some of the factors which might be contributing to this growing problem and some of the steps that need to be taken to address this issue. In particular I will focus on the role of the alcohol industry and the tactics used to create and develop new markets.