Anthropological reflections on youth drug use research in Australia: what we don't know and how we should find out

This paper outlines an anthropological/sociological view of youth drug use which complements the existing research paradigm. The limitations of the existing paradigm are identified and an argument is presented for the inclusion of ethnography as a fruitful research method and for a greater focus on the social context of drug use by youth. Finally, the implications of this re-direction for future research and prevention are outlined.

The origin of alcohol-related social norms in the Saami minority

The present paper addressed the problem of the origin of alcohol-related social norms in the Saami minority in northern Norway. Based on data from studies of comparable ethnic minorities in Greenland, North America and Australia it could be expected that alcohol use- and abuse would be more prevalent in the Saami than in the Norwegian populations of northern Norway. No data to support this hypothesis exist. On the contrary, available data suggest that drinking problems in this group are similar to those of the majority in the area. The present paper developed the hypothesis that Saami alcohol-related social norms originated in the Laestadian religious revival. The paper investigated the impact of the Laestadian culture in the formation of alcohol-related social norms. It was concluded that the Laestadian sobriety norm, and the norm of abstinence from the use of adiafora, have influenced alcohol-related behaviour in the Saami group in such a way that this group does not conform to the drinking behaviour found in comparable minorities.