Pages 542-544 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
Pages 542-544 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
Despite prohibition in Greenland against hashish, the consumption of this is common in major towns, resulting in a higher incidence of mental disease. However, the use of tranquilizers, amphetamines, or morphine has so far been very limited. Alcohol abuse constitutes a dominant problem. The leading political attitude to the use of alcohol has been very liberal. However, during the last years the Government has boosted the alcohol consumer tax. Both in the scientific reports and in the declarations from the Government, moralizing has been completely avoided and practically tabooed. The aim of the present study is to describe the public opinion about alcohol problems. Special reference is given to how alcohol problems are fought against by the Thule inhabitants. The general opinion is that a sense of responsibility is crucial when facing alcohol-related problems. Morals are not suitable for scientific analyses, but the concept of morals should be central in the debate on alcohol problems. By ignoring the significance of morals one excludes both the responsibility of the individual and the ability to adapt to social problems. There is a difference between the current scientific view and the people's way of thinking. The treatment of alcohol problems should be based on awareness of the connection between cause and responsibility.