Native American Substance Abuse Research Paper

The Canadian Aboriginal community consists of a strong support system founded on tradition, heritage, and spirituality. However, the history of Natives in Canada is polluted with marginalization, abandonment, and powerlessness. It has been argued that this history is the foundation for the addiction in Canadian indigenous communities, where the rates of substance abuse remain extremely high. Prior to the colonization of North American Natives, addictive substances such as tobacco, and alcohol were available. However, they were used moderately and rarely associated with

Following the European invasion in America, Native Americans came to endure many problems. While some have faded, others still linger on in their lives. The issue of alcohol and alcoholism is one of them. From settlers using it to deceive, to today’s issues on the reservation, alcohol has played a devastating role in the lives of Native Americans. Knowing how the issue of alcohol became such a predominate part of Native Americans lives will allow us to spawn ideas on how to end the problem.

The impact of various kinds of substances to cultural groups has historically been precipitated by the significance of particular substances on different cultural groups (Moore, 2010).This is mainly because the long term usage of these substances leads to the integration of the consumption of the substance into the cultural patterns of the given group. One such group that has been affected by the extensive usage of a particular substance is the Native American community. According to the Associated Press (2014, August 28), as noted on the MSNBC website, out of ten deaths among the Native American population, one is Alcohol related. Additionally, the prevalence of Alcohol consumption among the Native American population relates to

Native Americans have been neglected, abused, and tormented since the 1700’s when their land was abruptly invaded by Europeans. Europeans declared this “unknown” territory to be their property from then forward and did anything and everything to make sure this would happen. This included forced assimilation, where Natives were stripped of their cultural traditions and forced to assimilate to an english speaking, westernized culture (McLeigh, 2010). This included taking children from their families and sending them to boarding school to learn a new language, new cultural traditions, and new religious practices. Starting in 1860 and lasting until 1970, children were taken from their families at a young age and often lost touch with their family

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.

Nichea Spillane argues that “Alcohol use among American Indians is perhaps the largest health concern in many American Indian communities” (8). Even with free medical clinics, known as Indian Health Services, many Native Americans who live in cities or have left their tribal lands find it difficult to receive the medical care that is needed. This could explain why, “Uninsured American Indians or Alaska Native Adults were more likely than uninsured adults in the general population to have binged on alcohol in the past month” (SAMHSA 6). Study after study show the disturbing effects of alcohol on the American Indians’ health. From minor health problems to alcohol-attributable deaths, to mental health and suicides, there is no way to document all the damage caused by excessive drinking. It is documented that “…excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of preventable death and years of lost life in this population. During 2001-2005, AmericanIndian/ AlaskaNatives were more than twice as likely to die from alcohol-related causes, compared with the U.S. general population (Naimi et al. 940).

The term alcoholism is a substance that is obtains through the mouth into the stomach, giving the individual a sudden feel of the alcohol. It’s an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or to the metal illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency. Within the Navajo nation reservation, I’d say, alcoholism is a very huge concern in the reservation. Alcohol is obtain and use by Navajo men and women to teenagers of boys and girls. It may be sold a remote area that is call bootleggers. It’s a very complicated drug to make our past and future generation understand it is not a good source. Prevention conferences do their best to talk to the community. Many with the single homes of other families have experience

Substance abuse is a topic most prefer not to discuss; it destroys lives, relationships and families all over the world. Native Americans seem to have suffered immensely by it. Since the coming of the Englishmen and the introduction of new knowledge and tools Native people have been trying to hold on to their own culture and their own way of life. Unfortunately with them came new items for consumption, alcohol was one of the main ingredients to the internal downfall of Native populations. Native American populations suffer greatly due to the ongoing epidemic of substance abuse and dependence; some things are being done about the problems people are having but in the end will it be enough to heal a nation? To open this paper I will look at

The environmental and social factors that Pine Ridge residents must deal with only contribute in this epidemic within their community. Cultural influences such as the decline of Native American culture could be a factor within the oppressed members of the Pine Ridge community. In addition, Cultural clashes that still exist between the dominant group and the oppressed group can cause such things as depression and low self-esteem within that cultural society. Jones-Saumty and et al ( ) state in their article Psychological Factors Of Familial Alcoholism in American Indians and Caucasians that "Indians with a familial history of alcoholism reported significantly more of the following drinking behaviors than did the familial Caucasian group: Drinking for mental benefits, obsessive-compulsive drinking, post-drinking guilt, drinking to change mood, loss of control, withdrawal (DTs), and nonalcoholic drug use" (p.786). Many of these reasons for drinking could easily be influenced by the environmental factors that play a part in this serious social issue on the reservation, which would include poverty, unemployment, poor education, and drug addiction. These directly correlate with alcoholism within certain groups or cultures, and this seems to be very evident on Pine Ridge. The reservation has an estimated population of roughly 40,000 and 35% of the

Alcoholism is the leading health and social problem of American Indians than any other race. Native Americans who end up leaving the reservation to pursue education or employment opportunities express a high degree of discomfort and anxiety as a result of “feeling caught in two worlds.” By leaving the reservation they are abandoning their traditions, however temporarily, and suffering a sense of personal loss and insecurity. In entering a new world, this sense of loss and insecurity is heightened and becomes exacerbated, particularly if they do not experience success or acceptance in the new environment (Major, A.K. A 2003). However, if success and acceptance in the new world occurs, these individuals will still suffer the pangs of abandonment since they can never fully return to the reservation. In some cases, forced assimilation has extinguished the culture from many Indians as their grandparents and parents were forced to abandon the old ways in order to become more American. Thomas Jefferson, as well as many others believed that Native Americans can be just as ‘White’ Americans. In an attempt to increase local employment opportunities, many tribes have turned to gambling casinos and the collateral business which support these ventures. Illegal activities would certainly increase among Indians because of the simple fact that they need to survive by any means necessary. This can all

Native Americas seem to have many recreational drugs and seem to have a great time using them. Every tribe uses different drugs and smokes different plants. The main few are Tobacco, Peyote, Coca Leaf, and Salvia. In the article 7 Crazy Native American Drugs , "This drug was apparently so powerful that many tribes saw it as a portal into the world of the Gods.While traditionally used in ceremonies, peyote saw a spike in popularity during the Native American Church movement in the 1800’s." On the other hand the Coca Leaf was not a powerful recreational dug and was used with tea and other drinks on the daily. When we look at modern times we see the use of Marijuana and it has become approved by the US government for recreational use.

Alaska faces a variety of different problems. One of the main concerns of Alaskans is the abuse of drugs and alcohol (Alcohol and Drug Abuse). Abusing these substances causes a lot of wrongdoing in communities and creates obstacles that dramatically affect the people of Alaska, especially in rural areas. Tribal courts across the state attempt to resolve these problems by establishing an array of different rules and regulations to help protect the Alaskan people. Without community support- change is not ensured (Tanana Chiefs 95).

People uses alcohol as a vice to escape the harsh, impoverished life can be found anywhere in the reservation. Alcohol leads to other problems in the reservation like murder, suicide, and domestic violence. Junior’s grandmother was a death caused by alcohol abuse in the community. Much like in real life, impoverished communities tend to face a drug epidemics. For example, crack cocaine, heroin, and pharmaceuticals Plague areas that are poor.

Similarities and differences between Australian Indigenous health compared with Indigenous population in Canada, New Zealand and the United States Indigenous populations usually represent a statistical minority and share a history of being politically and socially marginalized. This extends into health access and outcomes of these people. Indigenous people in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States also undergo similar challenges including poverty and alienation. This has resulted into social and health differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. In all the four countries, Indigenous populations experience more illness and disability and, have higher mortality and morbidity and poorer health outcomes than their

Substance abuse has a wide and varied history throughout the world. Interestingly enough, substance abuse can be viewed from two different standpoints; as a disability itself (primary) and co morbidly with other disabilities (secondary or even tertiary). The use of various substances has a multitude of effects on both the individual who is using the substance as well as individuals surrounding user. In addition, there are many vocational issues that arise with each separate diagnosis, that need to be taken into account relating to the goals and objectives of individuals. This paper will begin with a brief account of drug use throughout history. It will then introduce various terminology that should be known when examining the occurrence of substance use and abuse. I will then follow the use of drugs as well as their placement with the text, though the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and discuss additional medical complications that might not be seen within the manual. Prevalence rates of individuals with disabilities, specifically those with intellectual/ development disabilities will be discussed, including those with secondary psychiatric disabilities and tertiary substance abuse diagnoses. The paper will end with a discussion of what is looked for by employers and how intellectual disabilities and substance abuse can impact these qualifications, and finally will have a brief discussion on the former and current