Hashim Abdullah Sulaiman Sarhan BA, MA

455 Pages·2008·30.61 MB·English

Chapter 6
Patterns of Drug Abuse Behaviour: Demographic
Characteristicsand Drug Use ...........................152

Introduction......................................... 152
Nationality and Drug Abuse Behaviour ................... 152
Ageand Drug Abuse Behaviour ........................ 156
Education and Drug Abuse Behaviour .................... 166
MaritalStatus and Drug Abuse ......................... 170
JobSituation and Drug Abuse ......................... 175
ResidenceSituation ................................ 179
FinancingDrug use ................................ 183

.......................................
Summary 195
Chapter 7
Patterns of Drug Abuse Behaviour ........................196

Introduction......................................... 196
InitiationInto Drug Use ............................. 197
Typesof Drugs Used................................ 208
TheAvailability of Drugs ............................. 213
Methodsof Administration ........................... 235
Consequencesof drug use ............................... 251
Psychological and physical experiences .................. 251
Drug use and other anti-social behaviour .................. 258
Treatmentof drug use .............................. 261

r ....................................... 264
Summay
Chapter 8
Drug Abuse Problems in the U.A.E.: Interpretation of the
MainFindings ..................................... 266

Introduction 266

Demographic Profile 267
Patterns of Drug Using Behaviour ...................... 270

Initiationof drug use ................................... 272
Peerpressure ................................... 275
Seeking intoxication and euphoria ...................... 276
Theavailability of drugs ............................. 278
Theexpatriate worlçforce ............................ 279

The risks of drug abuse behaviour 281
Drugabuse and crime .............................. 283

Seeking Medication 286
Attemptsto stop drug use ............................ 287
Continuationof drug use ............................ 289
Medicationin the Clinics ............................ 290
Medicationin prisons .............................. 292
TheDrug user - future prospects ........................... 294
Drug-related relationships ........................... 294
Relationshipwith family ............................. 295
Workafter release ................................ 297

Sociallife ...................................... 299

Summary........................................... 301
Table of Contents iii
Chapter 9
Drug Combating Policies in the UAE .....................302

Introduction 302

Drug Control 302
Tradein Drugs .................................. 305
Control ofpharinaceutical activities ..................... 306
Thestorage of drugs ............................... 308
Offences Relating to Phannaceutical and Medical Activities ...... 309
The manufacture of controlled substances ................. 310
Regulation of designated psychotropic plants ................... 312
The Use of Controlled Substances ...................... 312
DrugOffences and Punishments ........................... 313
import and export restrictions on drugs ................... 313
Offences and penalties governing the use of controlled drugs ..... 315
TheAdditional Penalties ................................ 320
Enforcementof Drug Legislation ........................... 322
The General Administration of Narcotics Control ............ 322
The General Administration of Border and Coastal Guards ...... 322
Trafficker's Infiltration ............................. 325
Methods of illegal entFy for drug trafficking ................ 326
The Departments of Narcotics in The Emirates .............. 330
Customs 336
The National Committee for Combating the illegal Use
ofDrugs and Alcohol .............................. 338

Preventive Measures 340
TheMinistry of Education ........................... 341
TheMinistry of information .......................... 344
Medicationand Rehabilitation ............................. 345

Summary.......................................... 352
Chapter 10
Conclusion and Recommendations ....................... 353
Drug use and the impact of the rapid social change in the UAE 353
Thepopulation structure ............................ 354
The impact of the geographical location on the
availabilityof drugs in the UAE ........................ 355
Drugcombating efforts ............................. 356
The characteristics of drug use problem in the UAE ........... 356

Recommendations concerning drug problems in the UAE 359

Lawenforcement ................................. 359

Prevention..................................... 361
Treatment...................................... 364
Druguse reporting system ........................... 365
Furtherstudies ................................... 367
Bibliography ........................................ 3698
Appendices .........................................381
Appendix1 .........................................381
Appendix 2 .........................................416
Appendix3 ..........................................428
Appendix4 .........................................442
Table of Contenzg iv
List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Places where samples were taken ...........................9
Figure3.1: United Arab Emirates ...................................46
Figure3.2: The main villages in the U.A.E.............................48
Figure 3.3: Illegal immigrants captured by the U.A.E. Coastal Guards
according to nationality, 1979-1989 ......................... 56
Figure 3.4: Permissions issued by the U.A.E. for expatriate workforce and
typeof permission 1980-1989............................. 58
Figure 4.1: Opium trade routes in the Persian Gulf in the early 19th century ......104
Figure 4.2: The Persian Opium Trade Routes of the Late 19th and Early 20th
centuries..........................................106
Figure5.1: Opium poppy.........................................118
Figure 5.2a: Opium smoking tools ...................................120
Figure 5.2b: Opium and hashish smoking tools ..........................121
Figure 5.2c: Two types of water pipe used by opium and hashish users in the
U.A.E............................................122
Figure 5.3: Morphine injection tools and methods ........................124
Figure5.4a: Adulterated heroin types ................................125
Figure 5.4b: Adulterated heroin and poppy seeds seized by the U.A.E. Drug
Squad..............................................125
Figure 5.5a: Heroin use tools .....................................127
Figure 5.5b: 'Chasing the Dragon' The method of smoking heroin used in the
U.A.E............................................127
Figure 5.5c: Coins put under the heroin user's tongue to avoid the bitterness of
thedrug vapours .....................................128
Figure 5.6a: Coca plant, coca processing and cocaine ......................133
Figure 5.6b: One of the cocaine sniffing methods used by cocaine users in the
U.A.E.............................................133
Figure 5.7: -
Qat leaves .........................................136
Figure5.8: LSD .............................................138
Figure5.9: Cannabis ..........................................140
Figure 5. lOa: Hashish resin .......................................141
Figure5.lOb: Bundle of Thai sticks ..................................141
Figure 5. lOc: Hashish Oil ........................................141
Figure 5.11: Hashish types seized by the U.A.E. Drug Squad ..................142
Figure 5.12: Hashish smoking .....................................144
Figure5.13: Marijuana smoking ....................................146
Figure6.1 Respondents' nationalities.................................153
List of Figures v
Figure 6.2 Ageof initiation .......................................157
Figure 6.3 The distribution of the respondents' age group ...................162
Figure 6.4 Respondents' educational levels .............................168
Figure 6.5 Respondents' marital status................................172
Figure 6.6 Respondents' job situation ................................177
Figure 6.7 Residencesituation .....................................181
Figure 6.8 Financialresources for drug use.............................186
Figure 6.9a Costofdruguseinamonth...............................188
Figure 6.9b Respondents spending more than 4,000 dirhams (660) a month ........189
Figure 7.1 Factorsbehind drug use..................................199
Figure 7.2 Typeof the first drug ...................................206
Figure 7.3 The prevalent types of drugs used among respondents...............209
Figure 7.4 Factors behind the availability of drugs ........................214
Figure 7.5 Drugsources .........................................219
Figure 7.6 Drug sources in the UAE .................................226
Figure 7.7 Obtaining drugs from outside the UAE ........................228
Figure 7.8 Nationalities of drug dealers ...............................231
Figure 7.9 Dealers' country of origin.................................233
Figure 7.10 Methodsof Administration ................................237
Figure 7.11 Frequencyof drug use ...................................242
Figure 7.12 Suitabletime for drug use.................................244
Figure 7.13 Placeswhere drugs are taken...............................247
Figure 7.14 Drug use and other anti-social behaviour ....................... 259
List of Figures vi
List of Tables
Table 1.1 Sample distribution among different jails and psychiatric clinics .......14
Table 1.2 The distribution of drug users sample in relation to each Emirate .......15
Table 1.3 The distribution of target population and the selected sample
according to the place of interview ..........................16
Table 3.1 The estimate of the Trucial States population at the beginning of
twentiethcentury ......................................51
Table 3.2 The estimate of the Trucial States population in the middle of the
twentiethcentury ......................................52
Table 3.3 The UAE population, 1962-1985 ............................54
Table 3.4 The UAE population, 1988, 1989, 1990 ....................... 59
Table3.5 Vital statistics, 1987-1989 ................................60
Table 3.6 Number of persons who took part in crimes in the UAE,
1980-1989 ..........................................62
Table 3.7 The Trucial States income, 1964 ............................69
Table 3.8 The distribution of the labour force in the UAE ..................71
Table 4.1 Quantities of opium imported into China in the 19th century ..........91
Table 6.1 The age of initiation of drug use and nationality ..................159
Table6.2 Drug users' age and nationality .............................163
Table6.3 Drug users' age and drug types .............................164
Table6.4 Education level and drug type ..............................169
Table 6.5 Marital status and nationality ..............................173
Table6.6 Marital status and drug type ...............................174
Table6.7 Job sector and drug type .................................178
Table 6.8 Place of residence and drug type ............................182
Table 6.9 Cost of drug use and nationality.............................190
Table 7.1 Factors behind drug use and nationality ........................202
Table7.2 First drug type and nationality..............................207
Table7.3 Types of drugs and nationality..............................210
Table 7.4 Factors behind the spreading of drug use and nationality .............216
Table7.5 Drug sources and nationality...............................222
Table 7.6 Dealers' nationality and users' nationality ......................234
Table 7.7 Places of using drugs and nationality..........................246
Table 7.8 Anti-social behaviour and nationality .........................260
Table 9.1 Drug trafficking into the UAE and routs of entry .................325
Table 9.2 Nationality of illegal immigrants who tried to enter into the UAE,
l99land1992 ........................................326
List of Tables Vii
Table 9.3 Number of trafficking boats which have entered into the UAE,
1989, 1990, 1991 .....................................328
Table 9.4 Number of drug cases recorded by drug combating departments,
1974-1992...........................................332
Table 9.5 Accused persons arrested by drug combating departments,
1974-1992...........................................334
Table 9.6 Quantities of drugs seized by drug combating departments,
1974-1992...........................................335
Table 9.7 Arrests by drug combating departments in accordance to the type
ofdrug-related crimes ...................................335
Table 9.8 The proposed budget of the National Committee for 1988 in UAE
dirham............................................340
Table 9.9 Number of addicts who had medication at Abu Dhabi and al- Amal
addictionunits, 1987-1992 ................................348
Table 9. 10 Number of addicts who had medication at Abu Dhabi and al- Amal
addiction units in accordance to the type of drug, 1986-1992 .........349
Table 9.11 Number of addicts who had medication at Abu Dhabi addiction
unit and the percentage of the relapsed cases ....................350
List of Tab1e viii
Declaration
No material in this thesis has been submitted for a degree in the
University of Newcastle upon Tyne, or at any other university.
Copyright © 1995 Hashim Sarhan.
The copyright of this thesis rests with the author.
No quotation from it should be published without the author's prior
written consent, and information derived from it should be acknowledged.
Declaration ix
Acknowledgments
I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to my supervisor, Dr. Ahmed Al-Shahi
for his supervision, encouragement, constructive help, generous assistance, valuable
advice and criticism and suggestions to the completion of this study. I would like to thank
my second supervisor, Mrs Janet Walker, for her assistance and comments. I wish to
thank all members of staff and colleagues in the Department of Social Policy. In
particular, I would like to thank Mr John Kennedy for his help and advice on statistical
procedures. I would also like to thank all respondents to my questionnaire for their
valuable information.
My sincere appreciation to Brigadier Saqir Ghubash, the Under Secretary of the Minister
of the Interior, for his great help, generous assistance and encouragement. I wish to thank
Colonel Salim Obaid al-Shamsi, General Director of the Police College, for his help and
encouragement. I would like to thank Brigadier Saeed Samsum al-Nuaimi, the former
chief of the Headquarters of the Fujairah Police for his assistance and encouragement.
My thanks and appreciation extend to the various government departments in the U.A.E..
In particular, I would like to thank the officials at: the Ministry of the Interior, Drug
Combating Departments in the Emirates, Coasts and Borders Guards, Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Youth and Sport, Customs Department, Women Association, Ministry of
Islamic Affairs, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and al-Sader Central Jails, al-Amal Hospital
in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Central Hospital, for their help and assistance during the
collection of the study's data.
AcknowledgmenLv xii
My deep and sincere appreciation and gratitude go to my father, Abdullah Sulaiman Bin
Sarhan, my mother Maryam Ghanim al- Zouhari, my brothers, Mohammed, Sulaiman,
Hassan and Abdul Aziz, my wife, and to my daughter Osha and my son Hamdan for
their prayer and continual support and encouragement.
Finally, I would like to thank many of my friends who assisted and encouraged me in
my study: Dr Saif Salim Saif al-Qay'di, Dr Jamal al-Mehairi, Dr Mahmud Kubaish, Dr
Hakim Abdull-Rahman, Dr Saeed Shawqi, All Omran, All Jasim, Abdull-Salam Bin
Abdull-Rahman, Mohammed Bin Ghanim al-Zouhari, Khamis All al-Ka'bi, Dr Hussam
Sultan, Dr Mohammed Abmed, Mohamed Jakka, Abdul-Rahman al- Bedayi and others.
AcknowledgmenL XW
Chapter 1
Introduction
The problem of drug abuse is one of the most complicated and difficult social problems
facing modern society. In recent years, especially the 1980s and 1990s, drug abuse has
increased rapidly in most countries in the world (United Nations' annual report, 1990).
Many studies (Mendis, 1985; Glassner et a!., 1987) have focused on the consequences
of the abuse of drugs on individuals, their families and society in general. Some studies
have concentrated on specific aspects of drug abuse such as drug control, medication,
rehabilitation, aftercare and prevention. Many international and national policies,
measures and efforts to combat the problems of drug abuse exist today, and are applied
in many countries in the world. In spite of these efforts, the problem of drug abuse can
be said to be of epidemic proportions amongst some sectors of society in many different
parts of the world.
Many young people and even children are involved in drug abuse and it has been found
that most users started taking drugs relatively early in life (Sega!, 1990). After starting
to take drugs, many people experiment with different types of drugs, many of which are
dangerous. This behaviour is destructive to the individual affecting everyday perform-
ance, the undertaking of responsibility, decision- making, etc. (Drug abuse council,
Washington, 1980). Eventually, the destructive behaviour also impinges on the commu-
nity in which the individual drug abuser lives, affecting the performance and development
of the community in general. Moreover, undesirable phenomena such as violence,
robbery, and other antisocial behaviour, as well as some very dangerous health
conditions, are often directly attributable to addiction (Clutterbuck, 1990; Suwanwela,
1978). The consequence for many addicts, even if they avoid violence and crime, is an
isolated lifestyle and an early death.
Chapter 1 1