Cuba - Escapism and its Causes

Cuba: Escapism and its Causes
August 8, 2013
Francisco Castro

HAVANA TIMES — (…) I've been thinking about the chances of recovery
these people actually have. Alcoholism doesn't really have a cure, but
one can control it. But, ultimately, I think they're simply too ignorant
to acknowledge they have to go into rehab.

How do they make a living? I doubt refilling lighters gives them enough
to live on. I see them standing on the corner, in front of the pharmacy,
all day, and they're always drinking.

You can see the damage alcohol has caused them clearly on their faces.
Their eyes have an unhealthy look which turns into an idiotic expression
when they reach a state, or, better, surpass the limits of inebriety.

They're pitiful. They cease to be human. What suffering could have led
them to this state?

I cannot but question the intelligence of people who fall into
destructive habits, such as nicotine and alcohol addictions.

News about the recent incident involving the poisoning of a number of
individuals who ingested methanol (popularly known as "wood alcohol")
prompted me to rummage through my documents in search of the above diary
entry, which I wrote on October 3, 2010, while living in La Carolina, in
the municipality of San Miguel del Padron.

I imagine the seriousness of the incident, the fact that no State entity
or institution is implicated (or so we have been led to believe), and
the fact the events in question are not of a political nature, explains
the unusually detailed coverage Cuba's official media have devoted to it.

No one, however, has made any effort to explain why incidents of this
nature, or the phenomena I describe in my diary, take place in our country.

No one, for instance, cares to mention that alcoholism is spreading
among Cubans of all ages and both genders at a startling pace.

No one, therefore, can tell us about the reasons why more and more
people are acquiring this regrettable, chronic condition every day.

I have my own theory, of course, which is why I write and share these
"reflections." My theory as to why this is happening is, quite simply,
escapism.

I have a relative who lives in a town in one of Cuba's eastern provinces
who distills his own alcohol. He uses measuring instruments and is
capable of giving his spirits distinctive tastes and aromas using sugar
cane, red mangrove and other ingredients.

I am not saying this relative of mine is an alcoholic. All I'm saying is
that he's been drinking this concoction of his for many years and I
don't know what would happen if, for one reason or another, he were
unable to have this regular dose of escapism.

In the town where he lives, people also prepare an alcoholic potion
known as "walfarina." Many of the people who drink it, men, for the most
part, have distinctive characteristics. The sweat they perspire, and
their breath, acquire a characteristic stench.

Hundreds of crimes have been committed in this town by people in search
of their daily dose of "warfarina." The destruction of many families,
and several deaths, have also been chalked up to the abuse of this
substance (sound familiar?).

To get a sense of the kind of poison this is, suffice to point out that,
at one point in the production process, a child's feces is used. Perhaps
this is a myth, but we all know that myths always have a grain of truth
to them.

I've never actually seen the production process, like most drinkers of
this substance. But all seem to know, and accept, that this "organic
product" is used in the preparation of the beverage.

Why, then, do they keep on drinking this poison? In addition to how
little it costs, to escape themselves.

We should bear in mind that, historically speaking, Cuba's eastern
provinces have been "worse off" than the rest of the country. It is
understandable, thus, that people at this end of the island should have
more reasons to become escapists and, as such, that alcoholism rates
should be higher there.

I don't think I need to refer to the many "reasons" Cubans have to want
to escape. Those who follow the posts published on this site already
have a good idea. Those who don't probably have something to go on already.

I am not against the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages, the
use of hallucinogens in moderation and even cigarette smoking, though I
know this last one is quite harmful. This is what I thought about these
issues in 2010:

(…) I have been tempted to pick up smoking many a time because of the
aura of sensuality which surrounds cigarettes.

Once, while sitting on Havana's Malecon sea-wall, I longed for a
cigarette, though I have never smoked. A young man sitting on the
sea-wall, looking out to the sea, is not the same thing as a young man
sitting on the sea-wall, looking out to the sea, while smoking a cigarette.

A cigarette between the fingers. The fingers go up to one's lips. A
slight inhalation. The smoke spreading inside the lungs, causing silent
pleasures (or, better, a silent death), coming out from one's mouth,
enveloping one's face. This is a far more interesting scene.

Then, the mixture of sweat, perfumed made from wood and citric essences,
and the smell of tobacco, produces an aroma which is almost an aphrodisiac.

Yes, inebriated with a dose of Noir, my feet on the ground, I escape
myself also from time to time. However, don't believe my addictions do
any harm to my health – physically speaking, at least.

Source: "Cuba: Escapism, Causes and Recourse" -
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=97603