Kava circles keeping young males away from alcohol and gangs, researcher says

[The Kap'n]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/lo...s-away-from-alcohol-and-gangs-researcher-says

A narcotic beverage from the Pacific Islands is being used to counter prejudices about people who use drugs.

"Kava is our culture. We lose kava, we lose our culture," Edmond Fehoko says.

His research on kava and the faikava experience, which he completed in 2014, has now been featured in a new report on the world drug perception problem by The Global Commission on Drug Policy.

The report looks at how perceptions of drugs and people who use them have led to stigmatising, rather than a realistic approach to drug policy. The Commission comprises 25 members, including former prime minister Helen Clark.

There is a lot of research on kava from health, agricultural and medicinal perspectives, but "no one has explored the social, cultural importance of it", Fehoko says.

Born in New Zealand, of Tongan heritage, Fehoko went to his first kava circle at 14. Now he's trying to change the view that kava circles aren't a "waste of time," but a space for cultural affirmation.


"The kava space became a hub where I was able to revitalise and maintain a sense of cultural identity in New Zealand," he says.

"There about 50 to 100 kava clubs in South Auckland alone. In Auckland, you're looking at almost 20,000 kava drinkers a weekend."

From his study, he found that the "kava space became an epistemological site".

"What I found was Tongan knowledge was created from these circles. They are supplementary to homes and churches."

Drawing parallels between tea parties and coffee breaks, he says it's the socialisation that people go for.

"It's not the beverage that we go for, it's the socialisation, and having the space to wind down and talk about things that you wouldn't usually share anywhere else. It's very therapeutic."

These spaces had "reduced the amount of alcohol consumption amongst young boys and also reduced youth gang affiliation. These boys attended this kava space as a means to get away from social issues like alcohol, gangs, drugs".

Kava circles also help bridge the communication gap between generations.

"You'll never see violence, anger or frustration ... the kava circle creates harmony between the younger generation and the elders," he says.

Fehoko encourages teenage Pasifika males to socialise in kava circles and also encourages parents to take their children along.

Fehoko is a former student of Kelston Boys' High School and is currently doing his PhD in Public Health at Auckland University of Technology with research in gambling among Pacific people.

 

[Intrepidus_dux]

This is great! I've said some of these things before,and was told I sound like a Mom.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one thinking in these ways.

There's an interesting story on NPR called Lonely American Man and talks about how many men don't have good friendships or enough social connections. I think kava could bridge that gap for many. Iove having kava circles with my friends.

 

[recentreturn]

This is great! I've said some of these things before,and was told I sound like a Mom.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one thinking in these ways.

There's an interesting story on NPR called Lonely American Man and talks about how many men don't have good friendships or enough social connections. I think kava could bridge that gap for many. Iove having kava circles with my friends.

I'll never understand what people have against sounding like [etc.] a mom...

 

[Krunkie McKrunkface]

I'll never understand what people have against sounding like [etc.] a mom...

Unlike sounding like a dad with dad jokes. Did you know gluten allergy is inbred? Get it, in bread?

OB ontopic, yes, I think kava circles for young people at risk is a great idea. Or just for great, safe get together. My son ha been putting one together at his Uni. He got straight A on his first semester of grad school, and he shells almost as much as his parents. Good kid.

 

[rapunzel]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/lo...s-away-from-alcohol-and-gangs-researcher-says

This is a good story, and I like the overall message that it is keeping some kids out of trouble. But I still cringe at it being call “a narcotic beverage . . ..”. That term implies that it is in a category that ought to be illegal, and has stronger, more druggy effects than it really has. I think this only contributes to it being lumped in with things like K@ and vilified, for example by the Seminole City council.

 

[Zaphod]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/lo...s-away-from-alcohol-and-gangs-researcher-says

I wish I knew about kava in highschool. 16 year old males and lots of alcohol are pretty destructive. The worst part is that I was the type of person who would just prefer to sit around a basement and drink with a few close friends. Going "out" never interested me much, but we did and it usually didn't end well. If we could have sat around tanoa and drank kava all night I would have been much happier!

 

[Intrepidus_dux]

@Zaphod , same here! I would’ve been so much better off.

 

[recentreturn]

@Zaphod , same here! I would’ve been so much better off.

Man, its funny to think back; I actually DID do that! I distinctly remember a group of us around a big bowl of kava even after my senior prom! Its odd to come back to kava over 15 years later and not know anyone else who will even touch the stuff.