Download Illicit Drug Use Problems in Israel

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]
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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.
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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]
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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%
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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