Perspectives of Frontline Professionals on Palestinian Children Living with Sibling and Parental Drug Use in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Abstract

The Occupied Territories of Palestine (OtP) consists of the non-contiguous West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Political and economic tensions and its dense populations compound the impact of drug abuse and addiction in the home. A qualitative study using four focus groups (n = 42) was conducted in West Bank and Gaza Strip explored the experiences of professionals working with Palestinian families and children affected by substance use and addiction in the home. Data were analysed using thematic analysis (TA), and four themes emerged. These were 'The rising and shifting problem of drug use in Palestine'; 'Psychosocial causal factors of drug use in Palestine'; 'The consequences for children and families living with drug use'; and 'Potential solutions to the problem are complex and multi-faceted.' The study paints a concerning picture of how drug abuse impacts on Palestinian families subjected to multiple pressures, stigmas, risks and harms relating to their situation.

Perspectives of Frontline Professionals on Palestinian Children Living with Sibling and Parental Drug Use in the UNRWA Camps, Jordan

“…This approach was deemed suited to garner in depth understanding of the impacts of familial drug abuse within the multifaceted socio-political context of Palestinian families living in refugee camps in Jordan. It underpins phenomenological examination of the experiences of professionals working with Palestinian families and children, (Al-Afifi et al, 2019) from a range of multidisciplinary perspectives, realities and meanings, due to its mitigation of potential cultural and language misinterpretation, and appreciation of the complex social contexts and challenges faced by participants (Braun & Clarke, 2006;Nowell et al, 2017;Clarke & Braun, 2018). In order to ensure scientific rigour, a quality framework in analysis was used (Braun & Clarke, 2006).…”

“…The effect of drug use on children and their families living in the Palestinian refugee camps is far -reaching and includes familial stigma and community isolation, dysfunction, early school leaving and maladaptive child development . Research conducted by the team in 2019 in the oPt has underscored how they are vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse, exploitation in drug trafficking, and at risk of becoming dependent users themselves (Al-Afifi et al, 2015;Van Hout et al, 2019;(Al-Afifi et al, 2019; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2019). Risk behaviours related to drugs are higher in Palestinian refugee camps, urban areas and among older male youth (Thabet & Dajani, 2012;Glick et al, 2018).…”

Public health imperatives in countering drug related health threats and vulnerabilities in contemporary Palestinian refugee camps

“…are generally denied full rights to political, economic and societal integration (employment, property ownership), are restricted access to public education, public health care and social services, and consequently experience acute socio-economic deprivation ( Habib et al., 2012 ; Kitamura et al., 2018 ). Further to the political insecurity, complicated by the impending angst around the ‘right to return’, Palestinian refugee communities in the drug transit and drug production countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza are reported to increasingly experience camp insecurity and drug related health threats and vulnerabilities ( Thabet & Dajani, 2012 ; UNRWA/UNICEF, 2018 ; Massad et al., 2016 ; Al-Afifi et al., 2019 ; Damiri, 2019 ; Syam et al., 2019 ; Van Hout et al., 2019 ; Wazaify et al., 2020 ). These conditions inside camps, along with tensions with the outside or host communities collectively increase their risk of substance use and high-risk drug use ( Afifi et al., 2019 ; Anera, 2019 ).…”

“…Limited access to safety and justice, lack of governance and infiltration by radical Islamist groups and criminal networks in some camps has played a vital role in the targeting of youth by drug dealers, the spread of drug abuse, trafficking and violence ( Damiri et al., 2018 ; UNHCR, 2016 ; Yamout et al., 2012 ). Young disenfranchised Palestinian refugees, particularly males, and those living with the trauma of displacement and conflict, are extremely vulnerable to drug related risk behaviours including exploitation in drug trafficking by cross border criminal networks ( Al-Afifi et al., 2019 ; Al-ghzawi et al., 2014 ; Elbedour et al., 2007 ; Van Hout et al., 2019 ; Wazaify et al., 2020 ). Internal efforts by Palestinian communities, NGOs, and CSOs strive to counteract this threat to communal existence and safety in the refugee camps.…”

“…In contrast, whilst both Syria and Jordan note PWID as a key population in their National AIDS planning, there is no operationalization of harm reduction in Syria, and whilst NSP was provided on a small scale in Jordan, there has been a decline in the important of some health programmes, particularly the national AIDs programme, with domestic resources are currently diverted to refugee support initiatives. Community groups continue to report concern around the hidden nature of drug use, the stigmatising treatment of drug users as criminals by law enforcement, and lack of harm reduction and drug treatment provision accessible near to the camps ( Al-Afifi et al., 2019 ; Glick et al., 2018 ; MENAHRA, 2020 ; Van Hout et al., 2019 ; Wazaify et al., 2020 ). Efforts are also reported to be coming from within, for example in Lebanon where in 2014, a group of young people living in Burj Barajneh camp converted an old prison building into a drug rehabilitation centre.…”