Socio-Cultural Determinants and Public Health Impacts of Substance Addiction Among Tribes in Jharkhand

Abstract

Jharkhand is home to a significant tribal population (26.2%), ranking sixth in India for its indigenous demographic. This paper explores the critical challenge of addictive behaviour in tribals. Traditional beverages like hadiya (rice beer),tadi and mahua are deeply embedded in their social, cultural structures. National legislative regulations fail in these regions due to the cultural normalisation of homemade alcohol, which is frequently perceived as a nutritional supplement rather than an intoxicant. A review-based methodology, utilising data from the 2011 to 2025 research, reveals a confounding public health crisis. Findings indicate that approximately 90% of daily drinkers suffer from alcoholic fatty liver disease, while the prevalence of Tuberculosis (432 per 100,000) and anaemia (72% in women) far exceeds national averages. Addiction perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty, draining household income, reducing labour productivity and increasing physical and mental health issues. Mental illness rate of Jharkhand is 11.0% shows a higher-than-average with treatment gap of 86% specially in substance use disorders. The aetiological analysis is presenting a compound interaction of cultural heritage, social, economic hardship, and mental distress as prime cause of addiction. This may be concluded that effective intervention requires a transformation from rigid legal prohibitions to a culturally sensitive, biopsychosocial model. Success depends on integration of community economic empowerment, leadership, and localised initiatives like "Abua Bugin Hodmo" to protect cultural identity of tribals and public health from various addictions.

Keywords: Addictive behavior, Culture, Economy, Health behavior, Tribal, Jharkhand