Addiction biology
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Use of betel nut (areca nut) and its products is widespread, particularly in the Indo-Chinese continents, being the fourth most widely used substance after tobacco, alcohol and caffeine, affecting approximately 20% of the world's population. Betel nut, with or without admixed tobacco, is widely used among UK Indo-Asian immigrants, particularly Gujurate speakers. To date most research has concentrated on oral submucous fibrosis and malignancy. ⋯ These findings are consistent with the existence of a dependency syndrome among those who use areca nut products. Further research is required to delineate the relative contributions of areca nut and tobacco to this clinical picture. Use of the areca nut, especially with tobacco, represents an area of health prevention among the UK minority populations that has, to date, been overlooked.