Drug addiction and identity politics: the spiritual use of ganja in Bangladesh

Abstract

With the aim of destabilizing the essentially deviant identity of drug addiction and addicts, this article focuses on the diversity within the phenomenon of ‘drug addiction’ and identifies generalizations about addiction to substances as problematic. Taking the spiritual use of ganja as a point of reference, this article uncovers an underlying identity politics between the dominant discourses of public health and welfare and the marginalized discourses produced by addicts. It finds that ganja users, through their regular use of the substance, create a social space for themselves and thus reclaim positive social identity that directly contradicts the discourses of the dominant culture.

Keywords:

• ganja use
• public health
• drug addiction
• identity politics
• spiritual use of ganja

Notes

1. There are studies that find a correlation between ganja use and criminality, or medical problems; however, a causal relationship is yet to be established in Bangladesh.

2. The words within square brackets here and afterwards have been added to explain the context little more.

i. The words within the parenthesis here and hereafter are added to explain the context little more.

ii. These are three serious social crimes in rural Bangladesh as they conceive.

iii. A Hindu who performs the ritual of praying.

iv. A Moslem who performs five‐time prayer daily.

v. One of the lowest caste people whose daily life is considered very lowly.

vi. Sufi leaders found mostly in the shrines.

vii. Annual gathering of the disciples of a particular shrine and/or Peer.

viii. Teachers and/or knowledgeable persons in Islamic doctrine.