Intersecting vulnerabilities: Substance abuse in indigenous communities in Southern India

Background: Substance usage is a growing concern among tribal communities in the southern region of Kerala, as it is associated with various social, health, and economic problems. alcohol being the most commonly abused substance. This is particularly true in Southern Kerala, where the prevalence of alcohol abuse among tribal communities is estimated to be between 20% and 30%. The prevalence of alcohol use was higher among male tribal members compared to female tribal members who initiated alcohol misuse at a younger age due to parental influence, home environment, and peer pressure.

Methods: A mixed methods approach was done to identify substance usage in the tribal community. 101 residents of the tribal community were chosen random and handed the survey, demographic details, substance they were used and using, views regarding substance use were all covered in the survey. Following that, 20 respondents who acknowledged to using at least one substance underwent semi-structured interview.

Results: In total, 101 respondents, 91 men and 10 women were included in the quantitative study. The majority of respondents responded to using substances, including alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. 74% responded to using tobacco products. This result implies that tobacco usage was very common in the research's population. In addition, 67% of the respondents said that, they consumed alcohol, showing that a significant proportion of the participants used alcohol. 13% responded to using marijuana. Fortunately, the percentage is slightly lower than that of alcohol and tobacco consumption, it nevertheless shows that marijuana use is prevalent in the sample. These findings show that alcohol and cigarette use, in particular, are significantly more common among the respondents. Through qualitative analysis, we were able to find the primary trends in tribal men's consumption of alcohol and substances. They began the usage of substances like alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana at an earlier age as a result of peer pressure, parental influence, and the home environment.

Conclusion: The study explored that, substance usage and its prevalence is high among the tribal communities of southern Kerala.