NIAAA Article Review Paper

Cultural competence and ethical responsibility of counselors is an issue that holds increasing importance. To be both multicultural and ethical is increasingly challenging. The population of the United States is changing quickly from a predominately white Caucasian society to an ethnically diverse society`. The Hispanic population, which represented only 9% of the population in 1990, is projected to increase to about 25% of the population by 2050. The number of African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Eskimos/Aleuts will continue to increase as well (Aponte & Wohl, 2000). It has been predicted that Whites, who made up three fourths of the U.S. population in 1990, will no longer be in the majority by the

Field, C. A., Caetano, R., Harris, T. R., Frankowski, R., and Roudsari, B., (2009). Ethnic differences in drinking outcomes following a brief alcohol intervention in the trauma care setting. Society for the Study of Addiction, 105, 62–73.

Substance abuse is difficult to treat no matter the background someone comes from, but adding sociocultural influences from diverse cultures can add an even more difficult element when it comes to effective prevention and intervention strategies. The United States is a melting pot of diverse cultures, with the Hispanic population accounting for “one-half of the nation’s growth” (Steven & Smith, 2013, p. 328). When it comes to treating Hispanic individuals for substance abuse issues, one needs to be aware of the cultural differences and acculturation issues that are characteristic of this culture. Clinicians who work with the Hispanic population need to understand their cultural values and respect their diversity so that barriers to treatment can be overcome.

Drinking pattern does differ by race and ethnicity in the United States. Our book discusses the difference between Irish, Italians, French, Asia & Native Americans, Hispanics, and African American. Studies show that African Americans have higher rates of alcoholism than whites do. This conclusion is due to the lack of research on drinking pattern amongst blacks (Lex, 1985; Sterne, 1967). Evidence also show that white women has a lower rate of alcoholism than black women, yet African American women have a higher abstain rate (Harper and Saifnoorian, 1991). Most African American males don’t encounter with alcohol related problems until about their 30’s. Seen in a study by Herd’s (1990) it revealed that is was some similar patterns between white and blacks as well as differences. White were found to do more

Alcoholism is one of our nation’s largest social issues to date, and carries with it many negative aspects, the most dire being death at the hands of this disease. Alcohol and alcoholism have been part of societies for centuries. This habit was brought over to the new world when the first settlers landed on the shores of what was to become America. Furthermore, in bringing alcohol to this new land an entire nation of Native American Indians were introduced to a product that has affected them more negatively than any other to date, and continues to suffer from today and probably well into the future.

When alcohol becomes to take control over your life, it is time to seek help because one cannot overcome this disease alone. For a long period of time I have had the curiosity of attending an Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) meeting. My curiosity to attend an A.A. meeting came from having many family members deal with harsh realities because of alcohol related issues such as DUI’s and family separations. The A.A group meeting that I attended was about forty-five minutes away from my house. I decided to attend an aa meeting not so close to my house because I wanted to experience a meeting that involved people from different ethnic backgrounds as oppose to the people that I am accustom to seeing in my neighborhood.

Keep in mind that there are differing ethnicities within the races that we claim. For example, there are not just Asians, there are Chinese and Koreans that have different percentages of addiction for each. This is important to point out so that we take into consideration the diversity that exists within regular terms. Amongst men and women, men were reported to be the highest drug users, while drug use in LGBT populations presents no conclusive evidence of rates in substance abuse. However, some evidence seems to suggest that the LGBT population in particular are higher drug users then the rest of the population. This is likely because LGBT people face more discrimination in life which leads to shame and depression and then addiction to escape the pain. This chapter also points out that denial and secrecy commonly characterize alcoholism and drug abuse in all populations. Drug use in mental illness happen because people start to self treat what they think is wrong with them, then this leads to addiction. Alcohol rates in diverse populations very a lot in different races. When it comes to treatment and recovery in the different diverse populations there are many ways to recovering them that suits their

It is important to be aware of one’s limitations, weaknesses and strengths in the delivery of counseling services. Taking into account the cultural values of the client, the support systems and the client’s view of the key parts of his or her makeup (the history of the client) are culture specific (because someone is of the same race does not mean that values will be the same) and does not discount the individual. Sue et al reminds us that multicultural counseling competency looks beyond racial and ethnic minorities and also includes disabilities, sexual orientation, age, and other special populations (Sue, et al, 1992).

There is significant overlap between the NFPA Life Safety Code and the OSHA construction standards for buildings / structures to facilitate safe egress, as well as the minimum elements of emergency action plans and fire prevention plans (Tubbs, J., & Meacham, B., 2007). This is not unexpected as continual industry feedback drives the publication of NFPA updates every three years which in turn affords NFPA research and guidelines significant clout when OSHA deliberates over proposed changes which happen to occur less frequently. Federal and state regulatory safety agencies are the basis and foundation of the safety profession which codifies regulations as enforceable laws. As such, they do not change frequently without significant analysis,

Because of the rapid rate as to how fast the AAPI is growing in the United States, the communication and trust of healthcare professionals in the AAPI community has never been more important (Ko Chin, 2017). Further research and healthcare practices to best serve the AAPI population is key to promoting the best physical and mental health possible. To alleviate substance and drug abuse, particularly in Asian Americans, the creation of programs that have the competency to handle people from all cultural backgrounds (Resnicow, 2000). Sabato (2016) also suggests that supportive health services and clinical environments that embrace the diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander culture, language, and beliefs would benefit wellness efforts in Asian American

In a multicultural counseling perspective there are four key approaches when counseling individuals, (a) multicultural awareness of culturally learned assumptions about self and others leading to accurate assessments of clients, (b) multicultural knowledge of information, (c) multicultural skills and interventions, that are appropriate treating clients, and (d) individuals are from a variety of backgrounds, demographic status, and affiliation of cultures. The three-stage approach, will direct the counselor towards levels of multicultural competence in therapy by providing a successful outcome in the recovery process. When conducting a psychotherapy session with a client the counselor should be able to demonstrate skills, when exploring the client’s cultural background. Counselors should also be able to focus on the essential skills and pattern behaviors, when identifying cultural differences. Counseling a minority from a different culture counselors’ must be able to identify their own personal behaviors. These behaviors are crucial when counseling these individuals. First, a counselor must be able to sense the clients’ viewpoint or issue in some way. Secondly, a counselor should be specific when asking a question rather than being unclear and confusing.

Counselors who are unaware of diverse cultural viewpoints are more than likely to do intentional or unintentional damage when working within communities opposite of their own and with those whose cultures and worldviews differ from theirs. If a counselor is unaware of their own cultural identity, biases, and stereotypes, how then will they know if they are unintentionally causing harm to their clients or build rapport? Cultural self-awareness is relevant because counselors need to know their cultural identity and what they must offer their clients in a therapeutic relationship and to help clients become aware their cultural identities.

Many different agencies often accept that diversity relates only to precise ethnic and racial groups. Nonetheless, there is more than ethnicity and racial groups’ there are factors that might affect treatments; for example, a client's gender, age, sexual preference, spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic status, physical and mental capacities, and geographic location. Counselors need to understand how those factors can be utilized in a positive motive way with a client during treatment and/or how they can be barriers to engagement, treatment, and recovery (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006).

Multicultural concerns are increased concern among addiction recovery professionals. Some of the employers require therapists to get training in multicultural issues. Some of the employers require their staff to attend multicultural training in the form of continuing education classes. These training sessions can help therapists become more efficient in dealing with their clientele base and therefore provide more effective treatment. Some common issues that the therapists must be aware of and be trained in can include:

Throughout history alcohol has been a common drink in social and celebration environments. However in today’s society it is easily accessible, very cheap, and advertised on every channel available. Alcohol has taken over our society, from teenagers to seniors, everyone is exposed to the culture of drinking. That is not the issue though, the issue is in today’s society gluttony is a common virtue and many people take drinking beyond social and celebration environments. Many Americans suffer from a disease known as alcoholism, it is not only the addiction to, but the inability to function without alcohol. Just like many other substances, in excess alcohol can create many issues within the body both mentally and physically, this is the issue