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Former Soviet Union Immigrants (1989-2010): Drug Use Problems in Israel Richard Isralowitz, Ph.D. Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resources Center Spitzer Department of Social Work Ben Gurion University Beer Sheva, Israel 85515 Alexander Reznik, Ph.D. Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resources Center Spitzer Department of Social Work Ben Gurion University Beer Sheva, Israel 85515 Tamar Peleg, Ph.D. Spitzer Department of Social Work Ben Gurion University Beer Sheva, Israel 85515 Running title: Former Soviet Union Immigrant Drug Use Problems Keywords: drug use, immigration, Former Soviet Union immigrants, Israel Article length: 1,015 words; 9 pages (including cover page, references, 1 table and 1 figure) Contact Person: Prof. R. Isralowitz RADAR Center Dept. of Social Work Ben Gurion University Beer Sheva, Israel 85515 Telephone #: 011-972-8-6562308 Fax: 011-972-8-656-2246 e-mail: [email protected] 2 Former Soviet Union Immigrants (1989-2010): Drug Use Problems in Israel Since 1989, Israel has been the destination for many immigrants. Also, during this period, there has been a rise of the country’s drug problems. National demographic information and police reports from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics were examined. Findings show the increase in drug problems is attributed to the country’s population increase, particularly immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and not those from other countries. Study results have implications for immigration policy and support services that are discussed. Israel is a country that has been shaped by waves of immigration from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Since 1989, Former Soviet Union (FSU) emigration policy allowed millions of people to exit to western countries. During 1989-1998, the Israeli population of 4.5 million rose nearly 20 percent primarily from the number of FSU immigrants who entered the country. While many of the earlier FSU immigrants in Israel were well-educated professions, a portion of the FSU population arrived in Israel with existing drug problems, others became addicted during the absorption process (Isralowitz et al., 2007). This article focuses on immigration and drug problems. Demographics, patterns of immigration, and files opened by police for drug violations were examined. Discussion is focused on Former Soviet Union immigration, drug prevention and treatment for immigrants and future research. 3 Methods A method of exploration and estimation suggested by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Taylor & Hickman, 2003) was used. This methodology allows extrapolation from available data (e.g. police files) to estimate drug problems of concern by determining how many members of the targeted population have such problems and whether that number is changing. “…Understanding the number….is helpful in assessing the likely impact of drug abuse on society and what level of response may be required…. alert[ing] policy makers to a worsening situation, or alternatively to provide evidence that prevention and other initiatives may be working ….. …” (p 2-3). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (2011) data about population demographics including immigration patterns and files opened by police for drug offenses from 1948 to 2010 were examined. Attention was given to the years 1989 to 2010 because of the population rise resulting from FSU immigrants. Results Table 1 shows the population and number of drug related police reports in years 1990, 2000 and 2010. [Table 1 here] Findings show drug related police reports increased with the population of the country. However, analyses show the rise in police reports positively correlated with FSU immigrants only (r=0.643, p<.01) and the country’s total population (r=0.945, p<.001). When immigrants from all countries are considered, a negative correlation exits with the rise of police reports (r=-0.783, p<.001). [Figure 1 here] 4 Discussion This study describes the relation between immigration patterns and files opened by police for drug violations. The limitations of this study are linked to the estimated figures and records of the Central Bureau of Statistics, police reports as well as the blurred criteria used to define immigrant status in the country. The results above suggest that immigration from the Former Soviet Union immigration is a significant factor for rise of drug related police reports in Israel. There are several reasons for this outcome. First, drug abuse of alcohol, heroin and other substances is higher in the country of origin – the Former Soviet Union. For decades there has been high rates of alcoholism, heroin use and infectious disease in FSU countries (Isralowitz, et al., 2009). For example, by the beginning of 2001, 2.1 per cent of the FSU population was receiving service in the country’s drug clinics: more than three million patients were suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction or abuse (Koshkina, 2003). Another factor is acculturation. Immigration by itself is a stressful event that may include a wide range of problems (Isralowitz et al., 2002; Nouroozifar & Zangeneh, 2006; Reznik & Isralowitz, 2011). The crisis of immigration may lead to mental and familial problems (Tartakovsky, 2007) and increases of drug and alcohol use (Straussner, 2001). Research of "acculturative stress” shows it may increase substance use among immigrants. Caught between two competing and often conflicting cultures— “traditional” culture and their newly adopted culture —immigrants may turn to drugs and alcohol as “coping mechanisms” to reconcile potentially conflicting pressures (Burnam et al., 1987; Dalla et al, 2009; Isralowitz et al, 2002; Isralowitz, 2004; Isralowitz et al., 2006; Isralowitz, et al., 2007). Among FSU drug addicts in Israel, it has been found that 47.1% never used heroin/opiates before immigration; and, culturally sensitive prevention 5 and treatment intervention not often provided (Isralowitz & Borkin, 2002; Reznik & Isralowitz, 2011). FSU immigrants have had a significant impact on the economic growth and development of Israel especially in the fields of science, medicine and many cultural areas. (Leshem & Sicron, 2004). However, such contributions have come at a cost requiring investment in prevention and treatment services to address increased levels of health and social problems as well as conditions of underemployment and unemployment. In the 1970's, the Russian speaking immigrant population was small and its impact on the country's alcohol and drug problems was insignificant. That situation changed with the much larger number of immigrants and, among that population, more people with alcohol and drug problems. FSU immigrants from the 90's may have more frequent drinking behavior than earlier immigrants (Hasin et al, 1999). However, this issue, along with drug use, needs further study to determine the nature of such patterns over time and among different groups of FSU immigrants including those from Russia, Ukraine, the Caucuses and other areas of the former Soviet Union (Isralowitz, et al., 2009). Problems associated with immigration (e.g., drug use and criminal activity) should be monitored for informed policy and service provision purposes. Also, there is need for further research of culturally sensitive screening and brief intervention for immigrant drug users in different settings such as primary care, hospital emergency rooms, police stations, and other locations. Improved prevention and treatment interventions for immigrant populations should be studied in terms of how they impact savings for health care, social services and diversion of the criminal justice system. 6 References Burnam, M. Hough, R. Karno, M. Escobar J. & Telles, C. (1987). Acculturation and lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Mexican Americans in Los Angeles. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 28, 89-102. Dalla, M. Antoniou A.G. & Matsa, K. (2009). Immigration, acculturation and drug abuse: Multicultural aspects of treatment. in A. Antoniou,C. Cooper, G. Chrousos, C. Spielberger, M. Eysenck (eds.), Handbook of Managerial Behavior and Occupational Health (New Horizons in Management), MPG Book Group UK. Hasin, D., Rahav, G., Meydan, J. & Neumark, Y. (1999). The Drinking of Earlier and More Recent Russian Immigrants to Israel: Comparison to Other Israelis. Journal of Substance Abuse, 10(4), 341-353. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cbs.gov.il Isralowitz, R. (2004). Cultural Identification and Substance Use: Immigrant and Native Heroin Addicts in Israel, Journal of Social Psychology, Vol. 144(2), 222224 Isralowitz, R. & Borkin, S. (2002) Russian-speaking immigrants: Factors associated with heroin use. In Isralowitz R., Afifi M. & Rawson R. (Eds). Drug Problems: Cross-Cultural Policy and Program Development. (pp. 89-112). Westport, CT: Auburn House. Isralowitz, R., Straussner, L. & Rosenblum, A. (2006). Drug Abuse, Risks of Infectious Diseases and Service Utilization among Former Soviet Union Immigrants: A View from New York City. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, Vol. 5(1), 91-96. Isralowitz, R., Straussner, L., Vogt, I. & Chtenguelov, V. (2002). A Preliminary Exploration of Immigrant Substance Abusers from the Former Soviet Union Living in Israel, Germany and the United States: A Multi-National Perspective, Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, Vol.2(3/4), 119-136 Isralowitz, R., Reznik, A., Rawson, R. & Hasson, A. (2009). Immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus Region: Differential Drug Use, Infectious Disease and Related Outcomes, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 7, 450-457. 7 Isralowitz, R., Reznik, A., Spear, S., Brecht, M. & Rawson, R. (2007). Severity of Heroin Use in Israel: Comparisons between Native Israelis and Former Soviet Union Immigrants. Addiction, 102, 630-637 Koshkina, E. (2003). Trends in the prevalence of psychoactive substance use in the Russian Federation. Retrieved from http://www.unodc.org/pdf/bulletin/bulletin_2003_01_01_1_Art11.pdf Leshem, E., & Sicron, M. (2004). The Soviet immigrant community in Israel. In U. Rebhun & C. I. Waxman (Eds.), Jews in Israel: Contemporary social and cultural patterns (pp. 81–117). Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press. Nouroozifar, M.& Zangeneh, M. (2006). Mental health and addiction state of ethnocultural/racial communities, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 4, 288-293. Reznik, A. & Isralowitz, R. (2011). Immigrants and Drugs: Demographic, Statistical and Cultural Analysis. Moscow: Ves Mir Publishers (Russian). Straussner, S. (Ed). (2001). Ethnocultural Factors in the Treatment of Addictions. New York: Guilford Tartakovsky, E. (2007). A longitudinal study of acculturative stress and homesickness: high-school adolescents immigrating from Russia and Ukraine to Israel without parents. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42, 485494. Taylor, C. Hickman M. (eds.). (2003). Estimating Prevalence: Indirect Methods for Estimating the Size of the Drug Problem. Global Assessment Program on Drug Abuse (GAP) Toolkit Module 2. Vienna: UNODC; New York: United Nations. 8 Table1 Drug related files opened by the police and population data 1990 2000 2010 All drug related files opened by the police 7797 21712 27839 Drug use 4946 12086 18277 Drug trafficking 2851 2527 5361 Total population 4,821,700 6,369,300 7,695,100 All immigrants 1,503,700 1,971,800 1,860,300 All immigrants: Percentage of total population 31% 31% 24% FSU immigrant population 185,000 847,600 990,000 (estimation) FSU immigrants populations: Percentage of total population 4% 13% 13% 9 Figure1 Total population, drug related police reports, and percentages of all immigrants and FSU immigrants Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) All Immigrants -0.783*** Total Population 0.945*** Police Reports -0.535* 0.643** FSU Immigrants *p<.05, **p<.01, ***p<.001