Cultural Issues in the Sikh Community: Part 2
A recent article out of Surrey, Canada discusses an education and prevention video targeted at alcohol abuse in the Punjabi community. The video, titled Kharaab Daru-Bad Medicine, was created by Peace Arch Community Services – a social service agency based in British Columbia, Canada.
Kharaab Daru-Bad Medicine, which premiers this week in Delta, is hoped to become a resource in the prevention and reduction of alcohol misuse and abuse within the Punjabi community, said director Kevin Letourneau, PACS’ manager of addiction services.
The video is in Punjabi with English subtitles and aims to address the prevalence of alcohol abuse in our community.
In Bad Medicine well known Punjabi speaking professionals along with individuals impacted by alcohol, share their knowledge with respect to the harms and risks associated with problem drinking, mistaking alcohol as medicine, how alcohol impairs mental and physical functioning, drinking and driving, addiction and family violence, and the benefits of recovery.
The Director of Peace Arch Community Services (PACS) rightfully notes that alcohol abuse is one of those “closet things” in the Punjabi community and is often used as a way to cope with various societal pressures. The need for the video came about after group counseling at PACS which involved Punjabi men who were court-ordered to get help after committing crimes while under the influence. A similar video was launched by Drug and Alcohol Action Programme (an organization addressing these issues for our community in the UK) last year and addresses the issue of both alcohol and drug use. The video, which I have included after the jump, was also presented in Punjabi with English subtitles. I think it’s vital that this education continues to be provided using Punjabi to provide greater awareness and accessibility to the community. We need to wake up and start facing our problems and we need to start holding our community accountable.
4 Responses to “Cultural Issues in the Sikh Community: Part 2”
[…] abuse is one issue that our community deals with on a regular issue. Whether in Punjab, the UK, Canada or the US – alcohol abuse is rampant and passes silently from one generation to the next. […]
Alcohol in the Punjabi Community particularly the non Baptised Sikh Community is a very very serious issue. Not only does it has a very detrimental effect on the individual but the whole family is affected by it. Two very close family members have died due to being 'Alcoholic' in the last six years ..one aged 48 years and the other 44 years. Punjabi role models such as famous singers and actors can and should do a lot more as the youth are influced by them. Our community does not realise that being Alcoholic is a very serious problem in which the person who becomes Alcoholic needs help from the family, friends, GPs, Statutory organisations. Alcohol advertising and sponsership should be banned.. If it was not for Alcohol, it is very likely that there would have been many top proffessional football players in UK..at the moment there are none. well Done to PACS for releasing this excellent video called KHARAAB DARU- BAD MEDICINE.
Alcohol in the Punjabi Community particularly the non Baptised Sikh Community is a very very serious issue. Not only does it has a very detrimental effect on the individual but the whole family is affected by it. Two very close family members have died due to being 'Alcoholic' in the last six years ..one aged 48 years and the other 44 years. Punjabi role models such as famous singers and actors can and should do a lot more as the youth are influced by them. Our community does not realise that being Alcoholic is a very serious problem in which the person who becomes Alcoholic needs help from the family, friends, GPs, Statutory organisations. Alcohol advertising and sponsership should be banned.. If it was not for Alcohol, it is very likely that there would have been many top proffessional football players in UK..at the moment there are none. well Done to PACS for releasing this excellent video called KHARAAB DARU- BAD MEDICINE.
jatt ladai jhagre tan hun chhadge par nashyan ne khale bachho jatto bachhjo nashyan ton ????…