SEU Popular Drugs in Saudi Arabia Discussion & Responses

Description: “The Saudi government claims the “Kingdom is facing a drug war on its youth”. 

• Based on the attached recent research paper entitled “Drugs behind the veil of Islam: a view of Saudi youth”, explore the popular drugs in Saudi Arabia 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10611-021-09943-4

1st

Mr Monther

Depending on the geography, age group, and socioeconomic class of the Saudi population, the popularity of three drug types (natural narcotics, semi-synthetic narcotics, and synthetic narcotics) varies [17].

Hashish is the most often used drug in the Kingdom. As seen in earlier research [8], the younger generations are especially fond of it. Hashish is popular among college students since it is mild and reasonably priced. Hashish smoking won’t make you dependent, according to my buddies (Interviewee C). Because it is so widespread among Saudis, some people believe that hashish is permitted in the country. The comments of interviewee C also support the conclusion of a longitudinal comparison research showing drug users’ educational attainment has significantly risen over the last 20 years [18]. Senior interviewee believes that there is a sociological explanation for hashish’s appeal. You risk alienating your classmates if you don’t test it out with them since it’s so well-liked among young people. You eventually come to accept it” (Interviewee M). There are reportedly strong societal pressures on individuals who choose not to consume hashish as more and more young people do so. The young people are under pressure to consume marijuana or risk ongoing rejection. Hashish is often combined with tobacco or Shisha in Saudi Arabian hookah bars for adults, thus stripping it of its illicit narcotic characteristics and explaining its appeal [19]. Weak correlations between gender and hashish consumption have been discovered. G, the interviewee, reveals that “girls also use hashish. My sister told me that her friends get together and smoke hashish. Arabs often combine hashish and shisha. You should be aware that women smoke shisha as well, and that they often combine it with hashish. But it may not be as well-liked as it is among males.” There are also minor distinctions between rural and urban locations. I come from a town, and I now attend school in the second-largest city in the Kingdom, as interviewee L explains. It seems that drug use is more prevalent in urban areas. However, both city dwellers and rural use narcotics.

Khat is the third most widely used narcotic in Saudi Arabia. It is made from the leaves of a certain tree and is categorized as a natural substance for establishing psychological dependency by the WHO. When Yemeni Sufis began using khat as a tea in religious rituals in the fourteenth century, khat began to appear in Arab history. Over the last 30 years, it has spread among elites and gained popularity with Arabs [21]. Despite the fact that khat is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, college students nonetheless often chew the drug [22]. According to research, khat addicts are more likely to have undesirable side effects such anorexia, melancholy, violent behavior, hallucinations, and paranoia [23, 24]. Interviewee A, however, doesn’t seem to be aware of these negative repercussions. There are adverse effects, according to some. Because khat usage originated in Yemen, there is a geographical variation among drug users. My friends and I haven’t had a lot of experience with this. “Smoking may cause cancer, but it appears you cannot discover many examples in which smokers develop cancer in real life.” Interviewee A reveals, “We Southerners like khat. Although it is less dangerous than amphetamine and hashish, it is nevertheless potent and may keep you up all night. There used to be a class distinction in khat consumption in addition to regional differences. Since hashish and amphetamine cost nearly four times as much as khat, the wealthy prefer them. As respondent P states, “it seems uncouth eating khat with your cheek fat. I prefer Captagon than khat.” However, because to the turmoil in Yemen and the rise in khat prices, this class divide has lately diminished. Khat is used in a variety of ways. It first helps people feel refreshed or stay alert. Interviewee M reminds out that “Sufis first drank khat as tea. Later, people realize how much it may energize them, so they take it often. For example, many of my classmates use khat the night before the final test since we have to study all night. Khat is necessary because many Saudi students procrastinate until the very last minute. Secondly, it serves as a social tool. According to respondent H, khat is a social pleasure as well as a medicine used for sedation. “Khat is a social activity; I share it with my friends, and they share it with me. Khat has been used in this manner, much like wine, tea, coffee, and meals in other civilizations, as a vehicle for establishing or maintaining social relationships. Treating one other to khat may undoubtedly deepen relationships since chewing khat is something of a hidden activity

Reference:

Jiang, G., Tang, S., & Jiang, Q. (2021). Drugs behind the veil of Islam: a view of Saudi youth. Crime, law and social change, 76(3), 299-319.?

Jiang, G., Tang, S., & Jiang, Q. (2021). Drugs behind the veil of Islam: a view of Saudi youth. Crime, law and social change, 76(3), 299-319.?

2nd

Mr alzahrani

Islam, the second-largest religion in the world, was developed in Saudi Arabia. People believe Saudi Arabia to be a drug-free culture because Islam is viewed as being rigid and conservative. The largest independent nation in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia. The Saudi administration has long denied drug use to reduce the influence of foreigners on crime in the country. Some descriptive studies and health studies have only partially examined drug misuse in Saudi Arabia. Many factors contribute to the popularity of drugs in the Kingdom, including their reputation as sexual stimulants and their accessibility. Peer influence and media influence, which have been the subject of few criminological studies, are the most reliable indicators of substance use in the Kingdom. Hashish is the most often used drug in the Kingdom. Other studies have found that the younger generations are particularly fond of it. Hashish is most popular among college students since it is mild and reasonably priced. The young people are under pressure to consume marijuana or risk ongoing rejection. Hashish is frequently combined with tobacco or Shisha in Saudi Arabian hookah bars for adults, thereby eliminating the features of illegal narcotics and explaining its appeal. Weak correlations between gender and hashish consumption have been discovered. the interviewee, reveals that “girls also smoke hashish. As a result, Saudi Arabia should take a methodical approach to drug crime prevention, concentrating first on the economy and the development of jobs before concentrating on the leisure sector to promote healthier lives.

References

Jiang, G., Tang, S., & Jiang, Q. (2021). Drugs behind the veil of Islam: a view of Saudi youth. Crime, law and social change, 76(3), 299-319.