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Drug Misuse Needs Assessment
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| In 2001 the YCA in Sandwell
received funding from the Department of Health and the University of
Central Lancashire Ethnicity and Health Unit to undertake a Drug Misuse
Needs Assessment on the Yemeni community. A number of questionnaires
were distributed, many being conducted and completed during face to face
interviews with the respondents. Where language was a problem, the
interviews were conducted using the local Yemeni (Arabic) language and the
responses recorded in English. |
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Profile of Respondents |
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 | Gender balance: |
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70% of respondents were male -
this may be indicative of drug misuse often being perceived as largely a
male problem. |
| Age distribution: |
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The overall
range varied from 16 to over 55 years of age.
78% of
respondents were under 35 years of age. |
| Marital Status: |
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53% of
respondents were single
44% of
respondents were married
3% of
respondents were divorced or separated.
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| Country of Birth: |
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62% of
respondents were born in the United Kingdom.
All of the
remaining 38% were born in Yemen.
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| Employment Status: |
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71% of
respondents were not in paid employment.
Of these, 40%
were in full time education or training, and 31% unemployed.
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Summary of Findings |
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| Awareness of General Issues: |
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The main points
raised concerning drug awareness include:
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86% of
respondents were unaware of any drug misuse within the Yemeni community. |
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54% of
respondents felt that drugs were a problem in their area, but only 14%
felt that the situation was out of control. |
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56% of
respondents felt that they had received some kind of drugs related
information from various sources, including schools, family, friends and
the media. |
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Yemeni drug
users found the quality of services for them to be of poor quality -
less than 25% said that the service was at least "OK". |
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| Drug-specific Issues: |
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Drugs recognised
as being commonly used in the community (and the proportion of respondents
which recognised them as being used) were:
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Qat (91%) |
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Cannabis/Marijuana (70%) |
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Alcohol (49%) |
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| Use of Qat: |
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75% of
respondents stated that they used Qat regularly:
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Qat users
typically spend between £4 - £15 a week, with chewing sessions lasting
on average 4-6 hours. |
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A number of
health related ailments are associated with Qat usage, including
sleeplessness, loss of appetite and hallucinations. |
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The majority
of respondents claimed to have never faced any serious health issues
associated with their use of Qat. |
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Key Recommendations |
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Education,
confidential adivice and a wide range of information to be made
available in Arabic. |
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Youth
facilities and activities are required to keep the younger members of
the Yemeni Community engaged. |
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Improve
existing drug services to be more conducive to the needs of Muslims, and
train community members to start addressing the problem. |
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Community
organisations such as the police, local Drug Action Teams, etc. to work
together to achieve mutual targets. |
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To address the
issue of Qat directly, both at a community level and targeted national
levels. In particular, to concentrate on risk areas such as
Birmingham, Sandwell, Sheffield, Liverpool and London through education,
activities and awareness campaigns. |
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Copyright © 2006 YCA Sandwell. All rights reserved.
Revised:
07/13/06.
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