Alcohol addiction
I have been doing a report on Indians and the drug abuse and alcohol abuse that is found on the Indian reservations in this country. It is scary to think that so many problems exist for our Native Americans. The people of our land that were squeezed into reservations by our founding fathers are now discovering that they actually have a higher instance of substance abuse than we do.
Data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (National Institute, 1989) show that about 50 percent of all U.S. adolescents have used alcohol. The comparable figure for American Indian is approximately 80 percent (Beauvais, Oetting, & Wolf, 1989). Early experimentation with alcohol and drugs places Native youth, in particular, at risk for serious problems. What creates this situation, and, more to the point, what is happening to correct it?
Well, it is believed that the Native Americans experience a lack of self esteem and a level of post traumatic stress syndrome which is negatively affecting the self image of their youth. Post traumatic stress syndrome is a state in which isolation, fear, guilt, shame, depression, anger, irritability, and other symptoms follow a trauma. Native peoples' history of oppression and present circumstances mean that the risk of trauma is comparatively high. In a society so worried about fitting in, to be such a minority and to be so hated by so many different groups has had a negative impact on their communities. This problem also seems to be related to risks associated with low socioeconomic status as well.
Alcohol addiction is one of their biggest problems currently. And although Opiate Treatment programs as well as Alcohol Treatment programs are available, it is difficult to treat people who are already at this point. Many people are trying to be proactive for the next generation in finding ways to build self esteem while the Native American's are still children. They are doing this tribally and instituting organizations that will help with this. On a tribal level they are trying to bring programs such as 4H, Girl Scouting, and physical challenge groups to the reservations to try and create a feeling of support right in their own community. They are also creating weekly peer support groups to help foster the feeling of community while educating the youth in these communities about the harmful effects of both drugs and alcohol on the body and mind. I love these steps because they show how a proactive approach may change the future of these communities for a lifetime.