Drugs in Lebanon - 2777 Words

It is true that the latest reviews of Lebanon, such as â€Å"Number 1 destination for 2009 (In New York Times’ 44 places to go), or one of the top 10 liveliest cities (by Lonely Planet) spring pride and joy in the hearts of the Lebanese, but they do not do much to dissipate the constant looming underlying concerns of the reality of the Lebanese citizen. 15 years of horrifying war, followed by 15 years of occupation, an unstable economic, political, social situation, an uncertain future, a corrupt system, little growth opportunity, and no stability to speak of, have engendered a disillusioned and scared generation, brought up by tragedy stricken, troubled, impatient, intolerant parents largely dependant on neurological drugs. Not†¦show more content†¦To report accurate numbers would be impossible, as no serious official study of the matter has ever been conducted. Some incomprehensive studies conducted by unofficial bodies, namely rehabilitation centers, and mainly in the region of Beirut alone show the following statistics: There are 10,000 to 15,000 estimated drug addicts in Lebanon, of which 2000 are female. This number could rise significantly if studies on other regions are conducted. 24% of prison inmates are drug users. Around 700 addicts receive treatment per year. A soaring 49% of all addicts fall in Beirut, with the other 51% divided amongst 6 other regions. Drug-related deaths are very underreported, and that for several reasons, mainly pertaining to the taboo nature of the issue, where families prefer to disguise the reason of death, when disclosing it might help other users. Average age for first time use has dropped dramatically from 28 years in 1996 to 17 in 2000, to 15 in 2009, with 60% between 14 and 19, to 22% between 20 and 24, to 9% between 25 and 29, to small portions after that. As for educational level, the highest rate falls within people who have reached complementary school with 31%, but this does not indicate that education prevents addiction, as lower levels like primary school and illiteracy together represent only 18% whereas higher levels like some or full university education represents 27%. Socio-economical status seems to be more defining, as medium class containsShow MoreRelatedPortrayal Of The Middle East1589 Words   |  7 Pagesrefugees. Given Hashem’s exile status he needed to find a way to sublimate his profound feelings of love and nostalgia for Lebanon and found his gateway in Zahra. Since Zahra was born and raised in Lebanon, she was for Hashem a living memory of everything he had left behind. For Hashem Zahra was not just a symbol of Lebanon, she was Lebanon. This almost uncontrollable love of Lebanon is what partially forced Hashem to become so physically attached to Zahra. When he relentlessly stared at her in the earlyRead MoreThe And Its Effects On The Young Adult Population Of Lebanon972 Words   |  4 Pagesto a better high. Weighed down by all the pressure and hype, I listened to them and snorted the drug. MDMA, or its generic term ‘Molly’, was not a common drug in Lebanon. It was hard to get your hands on and would lead to severe punishment if caught with the substance in possession. Surprisingly, the consequences were more dire culturally than they were legally. Contrary to many Western beliefs, Lebanon is a vibrant country filled with captivating history and culture. Nevertheless, many young LebaneseRead MoreIllegal Immigrants in Lebanon Essays1564 Words   |  7 Pages Although Lebanon does not consider itself to be a receiving country, it has been a destination or transit state for illegal immigrants from all around the world. 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In fact, Garnier and Stein (1998) found that adolescents who had a stronger commitment to traditional values were less likely to engage in drug use while those who were committedRead MoreThe Military Of The National Economy As Dubbed By The Pakistani Military Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa1499 Words   |  6 Pagesabout $23 billion (Lesch 2005: 185, 264 n. 22; King 2009: 141; US Embassy Dispatch 2006). Other activities would be that of the Defense Companies that were commanded by the late Ri’fat al-Assad that were involved in smuggling goods into and out of Lebanon, which even included narcotics and even despite the units dissolution after a failed coup, smuggling was still prevalent in the area until the forced withdrawal in 2005 (Drysdale 1985: 248). In examining all these activities it would not be hard