Drug Culture

The Drug Culture of PNG is prevelant among most, if not all, of its population. The two most commonly consumed drugs are Betel and Kava. Betel is actually a combination of three main ingredients: the nut of a Areca Catchu palm, the leaves of a Piper vine, and "slaked lime" from seashells or coral. Socially, the use of betel is likened to the drinking of coffee or tea in Western societies. Betel is "chewed to stimulate social activity, suppress boredom, enhance work, and increase personal enjoyment" (AE pg 221). For Betel, there are no social constraints; thus, the use of it normally begins in early childhood (8 years of age), and continues throughout their lifetime. It is said that the only time in which one does not have a use for betel is when there is no betel to be had.
Kava is not chewed, but rather made into a tea-esque, concoction from a plant native to the Oceanic region of the South Pacific. Unlike Betel, the consumption of Kava is reserved for adult men of high status. Kava is consumed every evening by these adult men of distinction at a special kava drinking ground located off the premisis of the villiage, which is exclusive to men. Women are not allowed to consume Kava because men fear that women intoxicated on kava would become "wanton" and not want to cook anymore.