{"id":13973,"date":"2021-09-21T14:37:22","date_gmt":"2021-09-21T12:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruralis.no\/?p=13973"},"modified":"2021-09-30T15:50:02","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T13:50:02","slug":"research-will-help-farmers-with-substance-abuse-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruralis.no\/en\/2021\/09\/21\/research-will-help-farmers-with-substance-abuse-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Research will help farmers with substance abuse problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Studies show that farmers have poorer mental health than other groups in the population, and that\u00a0their\u00a0mental health has deteriorated in recent years. Male farmers\u00a0are less likely to\u00a0seek health and medical help for anxiety, alcohol problems and drug use than\u00a0other\u00a0men, according to research\u00a0in\u00a0countries comparable to Norway. The reasons are several and complex.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding\u00a0and evaluating\u00a0measures<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

We will provide an overview of what\u00a0services\u00a0are available for people who are addicted to drugs or gambling, or are about to get an addiction\u00a0problem, and how they work for farmers and\u00a0agricultural\u00a0workers. The purpose is to identify what characterizes the best measures, and how the existing ones can be improved.\u00a0Proposing\u00a0new measures\u00a0is also on the agenda, says Ruralis researcher Aina Winsvold.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She will lead the project,\u00a0\u2018Drug and addiction problems in agriculture, prevention, management and treatment\u2019. In addition to Ruralis, the National Expertise\u00a0Centre\u00a0for Agricultural Health, the Akan Competence\u00a0Centre, the Farmers\u2019\u00a0Association\u00a0and the Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service are participating in the three-year project, which is\u00a0under the aegis of\u00a0the Blue Cross and has received NOK 1.4 million from\u00a0DAM-Stiftelsen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adapted to the life of the farmer<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Working\u00a0for\u00a0prevention and treatment for farmers will require methods\u00a0\u2013 to a greater extent than today \u2013\u00a0adapted to farmers\u2019\u00a0way of\u00a0life and work situation.\u00a0Farmers are self-employed and work alone. They have fewer colleagues who can assist when needed or\u00a0to\u00a0express concern if something is\u00a0amiss.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Farmers will usually have relatively long distances to\u00a0travel to\u00a0preventive talks or treatment.\u00a0In addition, they have a\u00a0less clear\u00a0dividing line between work and leisure, with work tasks that must be performed every day.\u00a0In such circumstances,\u00a0it is difficult to leave the duties on the farm\u00a0\u2013\u00a0not least if the farmer has animals.\u00a0In order to\u00a0be able to\u00a0devise\u00a0measures\u00a0for\u00a0the target group, the researchers need more knowledge about\u00a0the factors that\u00a0influence farmers\u2019\u00a0choices and opportunities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mapping the therapists\u2019\u00a0experiences<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

We want more knowledge about the extent of drug use and gambling addiction among farmers. Therefore, we will map the experiences the municipalities, the specialist health service and the voluntary sector have from working with this group. Both prevention\u00a0and treatment will be in focus. It is important that farmers and agricultural workers\u00a0are\u00a0empowered\u00a0to prevent and deal with problematic use,\u00a0says Brit Logstein from the National Expertise Centre for Agricultural Health at the Department of Occupational Medicine\u00a0at\u00a0St.\u00a0Olavs\u00a0Hospital,\u00a0and that they\u00a0know where to seek help and treatment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Facts<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n