health
Cubans self-medicate as crisis takes toll on mental health: ‘There is no idea to hold on to’
Many people are turning to prescription drugs – and some to herbal remedies and even hard drugs – amid an outlook that feels bleaker than the collapse of the Soviet Union
TL;DR
- A significant mental health crisis is affecting Cuba, leading to increased self-medication with prescription drugs.
- The economic decline, a US-imposed oil blockade, and years of hardship have fueled widespread stress and anxiety among the population.
- Healthcare professionals observe a surge in black market sales of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and stimulants.
- Daily uncertainties, such as power outages and lack of basic necessities, contribute to psychological manifestations like depression and anxiety.
- The current crisis is perceived by some as more challenging than the "Special Period" of the 1990s due to a lack of hope and a bleak future outlook.
- While prescription drugs are common, some Cubans are turning to herbal remedies or harder illicit drugs.
- The exodus of a significant portion of the population has left many elderly Cubans feeling lonely and isolated.