Alcohol abuse in Senegal has reached “massive” levels but most addicts are not receiving the help they need, according to experts.
”Over the last five years I have seen consumption grow and grow,” said Abdoulaye Diouf, head of the Jacques Chirac drug information and awareness centre in the capital Dakar. “More and more people drink [to excess]...it’s very worrying.”
The trend reflects a global phenomenon. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2008 Global Burden of Disease study shows that in both low- and high-income countries the harmful use of alcohol is now among the 10 leading causes of disability. Causal relationships were found between average volume of alcohol consumption and more than 60 types of disease and injury.
Each year more than two million people die worldwide from alcohol-related causes.
Drinking patterns around the world have changed in recent years, with consumption increasing the most markedly in developing countries, according to WHO. Drinking to excess among the general population and heavy episodic drinking among young people are also on the rise in many countries, WHO says.
”Health problems associated with alcohol consumption have reached alarming levels, and alcohol use contributes to a wide range of diseases, health conditions and high-risk behaviours, from mental disorders and road traffic injuries, to liver diseases and unsafe sexual behaviour,” the study says.
In Senegal the impact of alcohol abuse has wide social implications.
Bamar Gueye, secretary-general of the Senegalese NGO Jamra, which works to combat drug use in Senegal, believes alcohol is at the heart of many security problems in the country.
”Where you find crime and violence, there is very often a link with alcohol,” he said. “If there’s a commotion, say after a football match in the neighbourhoods, often young men have been drinking and it makes matters worse. It makes them aggressive.”
He added: “In many cases of rape, also, alcohol is a factor.”
NGO staff who work with addicts in Senegal say people turn to alcohol for various reasons.
”Often [young people drink] because they are bored,” said Diouf, head of the drug awareness centre. “They don’t have a job and may have abandoned school at a young age. They want to do what their friends do. Also, programmes on TV trivialise the drinking of alcohol.”
The Jacques Chirac centre provides neighbourhood outreach programmes as well as leisure activities to combat the boredom which can lead to substance abuse. Increased accessibility to alcohol also plays an important role in its growing misuse, Diouf told IRIN.
”Alcohol can be bought a lot more easily now. There are ‘clandos’ [clandestine bars] in many areas and people sell individual containers on the street. They divide up bottles so that even the poorest can afford alcohol.”
But despite evidence of rising consumption Jamra’s Gueye said he believes that local authorities do not take the issue seriously.
”Millions [of CFA] are spent on other health problems like AIDS or malaria but there’s not even an official programme to fight alcohol,” he said. “It’s grouped under ‘drugs’ but is often overlooked.”
According to Gueye, it falls to NGOs to provide the bulk of support to alcoholics. Jamra runs a therapy initiative called ‘The Circle’ which encourages addicts to come with a loved one to talk through their issues. A mediation service is on offer to try to help - sometimes fractured - family relationships. Patients are referred to a psychiatrist if deemed necessary.
At the Jacques Chirac centre in Thiaroye, 15km east of Dakar, plans are in place to build Senegal’s first ‘therapeutic community’ - a residential base where patients can be treated. The Pikine mayor’s office has offered land in Keur Massar, 35km east of Dakar. The Jacques Chirac centre is working to raise funds internationally.
While the help offered to alcoholics is considered scant by some experts, the socially taboo nature of alcohol misuse in Senegal — predominantly Muslim — makes it even more difficult for sufferers to speak out.
”Alcoholics are breaking the norms of society here and so they are rejected even more [than in other societies],” Diouf said. This contributes further to their marginalisation.”
For Jamra’s Gueye, both the state and citizens need to take more notice of the issue, but a subtle approach is crucial.
”We must not stigmatise the problem any further,” he said. “Everywhere in the world, we’ve seen the negative effects of alcohol. But you can’t force people [to behave in a certain way]. The answer is to make them aware of the consequences of alcohol very early on.”
Gueye added: “We need to show them alcohol is not an escape from their problems, and that its effects can be devastating.”

One Alasana colly was last Thursday appeared before Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai of Banjul Magistrates’ Court for being in possession of 1kg and 44 bundles of prohibited drug for the purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution in the case called his first witness Inspector Cherno Gibba who told the court that he is a drug squad officer station at Kalagi police station, noting that on 9th August 2008 he was at the station when one NIA officer came with the accused to the station. He added that the NIA officer told him that the accused was arrested during their investigation and was now handed over to the drug squad authority. He said after receiving the accused, he confessed to him that he owned the suspected cannabis.

He added that the accused was later referred to Brikama police station with the said suspected cannabis where he the accused was charged with being in possession of prohibited drug.

At that juncture the case was adjourned to later date.

Superintendent Fatou Fani-Williams, officer in charge of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Western Region (WR), last Thursday gave her evidence in chief at the Banjul Magistrates Court in a drug peddling case involving one Alassan Colley.

The drug peddler is accused of using the name of President Jammeh to effect or execute his business in Casamance, the southern region of Senegal.

The NDEA WR boss, who joined the agency in 1999, said that on the 9th of August 2008, whilst in her Brikama office, the accused person was brought to her office with a case file.

“After carefully reading the case file, the accused was cautioned in Wollof (the language he claimed to understand) in the presence of an independent witness. He was not subjected to any force or enforcement. He was not under any duress or pressure.

The cautionary and voluntary statements were obtained from  him and he was accordingly charged for the offense committed,” she explained to the court.
Superintendent Fatou Fani Williams, identified both the cautionary and voluntary statements which were tendered and marked as exhibits.

The case was adjourned to 13th November for continuation.

The chairman of the meeting, Mr. Pa Habibou Mbai, said every citizen and member of the community should be like a police officer to help reduce the crime rate. He stated that the community can tackle some of its problems without the intervention of the police. He said that people should never conceal criminals in their houses and should report them to the authorities.

ASP Siray Jabang said that KMC, in collaboration with The Gambia Police Force and other departments, is of the view that the job of policing should be returned to the community. ASP Jabang went on to say that all major crimes should be reported to the police but that minor ones should be tackled at community level because police are too busy to deal with them.

The police spokesperson, ASP Sulayman Secka, told the gathering that most of the complaints lodged at the police station are minor ones and that this workload impacts negatively on the investigations of major ones. He then urged the community to play their part because theirs is a vital role. In conclusion he said it was the mandate of every member of the community to report any criminal activity to the authorities.

If we are to live in peace and harmony then everybody must play their role in protecting the community. The police force do a good job in tackling crime but a good deal of their time is spent dealing with trivial matters to the detriment of more complex or serious crimes.

Speaking at the launch of the sensitisation campaign, the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Pa Habibou Mbai, said every citizen and member of the community should be like a police officer to help reduce the crime rate. He stated that the community can tackle some of its problems without the intervention of the police. He said that people should never conceal criminals in their houses and should report them to the authorities.

These are very important points and in fact it is dissapointing that they have to be made so plainly. We should be in a situation in The Gambia where nobody would even consider concealing a criminal in their compound. It is the essence of being a good member of the community that people watch out for each others personal safety and property. We join with the police spokesperson, ASP Sulayman Secka, who urged the community to play their part because theirs is a vital role. In conclusion he said it was the mandate of every member of the community to report any criminal activity to the authorities. We ask all readers to follow this good advice and play a full and vibrant role in their communities. The benefit for all of us will be very great indeed.

Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court last Thursday fined one Sanna Saidy the sum of one million Dalasis, in default to serve five years’ imprisonment. In addition, he was sentenced to 10-year -mandatory jail term. He was convicted after being proven guilty of being in possession of 2kg and 540g of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Before delivering the sentence, Magistrate Mbai went through the evidence of both the prosecution and the defence. According to him the prosecution had called in five witnesses and had proven their case beyond all reasonable doubts.

According to the particulars of the offence on 21st April 2008, at Barra, Niumi District, North Bank Region the convict was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency with 2kg and 540g of cannabis sativa in his possession.

The duo were arraigned last Thursday before Principal Magistrate Idrissa Mbye at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on a charge of being in possession of 9kg, 260g of suspected drug for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy.

Count one states that on or about 13thSeptember 2008 at Sololo village in CRR the accused persons were allegedly found in possession of 9kg, 260g of suspected prohibited drug.

Count two states that on 10thSeptember 2008 at Brusubi in Kombo North, Western Region, the duo conspired to transport 9kg, 260g of suspected prohibited drug from the Brusubi area.

However when the charge sheets were read to them, they denied the charges.

Defence Counsel Amie Joof-Conteh made an application for the court to order the State Prosecutors to supply the defence with all the information necessary in the case to enable the defence to get prepared.

The application was granted and the court ordered the State prosecutors to make available to the defence all the information necessary for the case before the next adjourned date – today (Tuesday, 14 October 2008).

Speaking on the occasion, the Regional Health Officer, Mr. Karamba F. Keita, described home base management strategy as aimed at improving access to health facilities.

According to him, with the introduction of the new (coartem) drug it will contribute effectively in addressing the high incidence of malaria morbidity and mortality by increasing awareness and community based management of the disease.

For her part, the Senior Community Health Nurse Tutor, Madam Ida Ceesay, urged mothers and care givers in particular to adopt a prompt and appropriate treatment of malaria at home and in the community within twenty-four hours of the on set of the system.

Mr. Musa Camara pointed out that the objective of the sensitization was to equip the stakeholders with the relevant information on the use of the drug in malaria treatment. He assured them that the new malaria drug was effective and safe.

It is extremely disappointing to read of the arrest of Hon. Dawda Manneh the APRC National Assembly member for Nianija constituency on suspicion of drug trafficking. He must now face the justice process and prove his innocence if he is innocent. If he is guilty he must face the full force of the law. His arrest unfortunately brings back bad memories for many in the form of the Musa Susso case.

The APRC National Assembly Member for Kombo North in the year 2000 was arrested and later convicted of drug trafficking. He was given a seven-year jail term but later pardoned. When that case finished most people hoped that there might never be another like it as when people elect National Assembly Members they, rightly, expect them to be utterly beyond reproach.

It is an honour to serve the people of this nation as their elected representative and this scale of this honour should never be lost on any elected representative. Politicians are the servants of the people. They make the laws of the land which are supposed to be there to protect the peace and prosperity of the nation. The least that we as a public can expect is that the elected representatives adhere to these laws.

A National Assembly Member must be beyond reproach in all matters but most especially with regard to the law. Few things enrage the public like the exposure of hypocrisy. To see the laws broken by those who are elected to make them sticks firmly in the craw of the electorate. When a man or women is given the privilege of being referred to as Honourable when elected they should live up to the name.                    

To ensure that people live up to this title we would ask the parties to vet their candidates very thoroughly before elections to ensure that no bad apples make their way onto the ticket.

This process would help all concerned avoid the kind of embarrassment and negative political fallout that comes from a case like the Musa Susso case. Unfortunately the cases of alleged wrongdoing on the part of National Assembly Members are not confined to drugs and involve other types of alleged offences.

We pray for the day when all elected to our national parliament to represent the people of their constituencies will not be hypocrites and serve their people and always respect and obey the laws of this great nation.

“O what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”

Sir Walter Scott