Drug use and possession, emerging of new psychoactive substances in the West Bank, Palestine

Abstract

Background: The use of illicit drugs has seen an upswing during the last years in the West Bank. Political, social, economic, and demographic factors may play roles in the increasing use of illicit drugs in the West Bank. This study aimed to describe drug possession among Palestinians in order to provide insight into the extent of illicit substances use, to assess their risk, and to explore new forms in order to raise awareness of these drugs. Files (3674) related to drug possession in Anti narcotic drug departments in the West Bank from 2010to 2014 were reviewed and analysed. Results: Most arrestees (99%) were males, (55.9%) aged 18-< 30, (48.8%) singles, (56.7%) with a primary level of education, and (81.8%) had used drugs for a year or more. The most common seized and used substances were cannabis, hashish (74.3%) and marijuana (15.2%), followed by synthetic cannabinoids, hydro (26.6%). MDMA (Ecstasy) was used (3.6%) more than LSD (3.1%) and more than heroin and cocaine combined (3.3%). Liquid methamphetamine was emerged as a new homemade yellow substance, with a street name (GG) that is used for improving libido. Attempts to cultivate marijuana using 31,116 seedlings and seeds were recorded. Conclusion: Tracking the possession of high-risk drugs and new psychoactive substances in a society is important for policy makers in order to investigate the circumstances and impact of these substances. There is a trend in emerging new psychoactive substances (synthetic cannabinoids), manufacturing a new drug (liquid methamphetamine), and cultivating illegal drugs (marijuana) starting from the year 2013. These results are important for prevention, treatment and control, and for law enforcement in the West Bank. Policies, strategies and action plans in the controlling new substances should be developed taking into account local and regional socioeconomic issues.

Pattern of substance use among schoolchildren in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

“…Both natural and synthetic cannabinoids were the most frequently used illicit drugs (19.5% of respondents and all illicit drug users). This agrees with local and international studies as cannabis continues to be the most seized drug worldwide and locally, both in terms of the number of cases and actual quantities intercepted (CDC 2013;Damiri et al 2018a;Damiri et al 2018b;UNODC 2015). An average of 5.0% of students aged 13-15 years in the West Bank and 3.6% in Gaza in 2010 had used marijuana one or more times during their life (CDC 2013).…”

“…According to the Global School-based Student Health Survey, among students who ever used drugs, about 91.6% had used them for the first time before the age of 14 years in the West Bank (CDC 2013). Moreover, there is an increase in trials to produce these drugs locally in the West Bank, and young adults are implicated in the field of drug farming and marketing (Damiri et al 2018b). There are few studies that have been conducted in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza in order to determine the extent, the trend, and the pattern of drug use among Palestinians in different age groups (Damiri et al 2018a(Damiri et al , 2018bMassad et al 2016;Stulhofer et al 2016;Thabet and Dajani 2012).…”

“…Moreover, there is an increase in trials to produce these drugs locally in the West Bank, and young adults are implicated in the field of drug farming and marketing (Damiri et al 2018b). There are few studies that have been conducted in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza in order to determine the extent, the trend, and the pattern of drug use among Palestinians in different age groups (Damiri et al 2018a(Damiri et al , 2018bMassad et al 2016;Stulhofer et al 2016;Thabet and Dajani 2012). The results of these studies had indicated that drug use among Palestinian is relatively high, and it is increasing despite the religious, legal, and cultural constraints.…”

“…The results of these studies had indicated that drug use among Palestinian is relatively high, and it is increasing despite the religious, legal, and cultural constraints. It has been established that the most used drugs were cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids, and most of the Palestinian users had initiated drugs at an early age (Damiri et al 2018a;Damiri et al 2018b). Around 1.9% of persons convicted with drug possession were in the age group < 18 years, and 3% of them were students (Damiri et al 2018a(Damiri et al , 2018b.…”

“…It has been established that the most used drugs were cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids, and most of the Palestinian users had initiated drugs at an early age (Damiri et al 2018a;Damiri et al 2018b). Around 1.9% of persons convicted with drug possession were in the age group < 18 years, and 3% of them were students (Damiri et al 2018a(Damiri et al , 2018b. To the authors' best knowledge, there are no studies that have described the pattern of psychoactive substance use among schoolchildren in Palestine.…”