Arecaidinism: betel chewing in transcultural perspective.

Abstract

Arecaidinism, or betel-nut habituation, has existed since earliest recorded times. The custom is restricted to a large area to the north and north-west of Australia and enters into the daily life of well over 200 million people. The impropriety of interfering with other people's customs, however, has not prevented the imposition of alien values and many believe the practice must be stopped. The arguments advanced against arecaidinism are ostensibly esthetic, addictive and oncogenic in nature, but may have other origins. An account is given of the history, pharmacology, economic aspects, culture functions, psychiatric implications, and an alleged relationship to oral carcinoma in the associated research, all of which indicate a complex habit deeply rooted in the daily living of the peoples concerned. It is inextricably interwoven with the overall patterning of the psychological, social, cultural and economic behaviour. On the evidence there can be little doubt that the betel chewing mixture is a fairly harmless stimulant and addictive agent and that the esthetic and oncogenic arguments remain unsupported by studies with any significant degree of scientific rigour at the present time. The antagonists should look more deeply into their own underlying motivations, the true state of their knowledge and, in the unlikely event of their programs being successful, should ask themselves what is likely to take its place.