NCJ Number
196824
Journal
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: 2002 Pages: 39-56
Date Published
2002
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper summarizes the literature on alcohol problems among Alaska Natives, with a focus on Native and Western healing practices, as well as risk and resiliency factors.
Abstract
Abbott (1998) identified the effects of alcohol on health problems among Alaska Natives and noted that mortality rates from alcoholism were 447 percent higher than the national average. The age-adjusted alcoholism death rate was 5.3 times higher among Alaska Natives than that of the general U.S. population, and the drug-related death rate was 4.5 times that of the general population. One of the more prominent risk theories for alcoholism among Alaska Natives relates to concepts of deculturation (Abbott, 1998; Rodenhauser, 1994) and cultural oppression (Sullivan and Brems, 1997). The components of this oppression include breaking up group solidarity, control over information, development of positive dependent relationships, criticism of the target culture, and a striving by the members of the target culture to be rewarded for "good" behavior. There is extensive evidence that all of this has occurred in Alaska (Sullivan and Brems, 1997). A body of literature has begun to describe native treatment approaches (both in Alaska and elsewhere) to a range of problems, including health problems and alcohol-related problems. The most frequently mentioned Native treatment approach is the Talking Circle (Abbott, 1998; Fredericks and Hodge, 1999; Huff and Kline, 1999; Napoleon, 1996; and others). The most common applications of the Talking Circle involve groups of individuals who gather to talk in a somewhat structured setting. Often an elder will be a group leader and may start with a story that has significance to the group. Among the barriers to delivery of service to Alaska Natives is the medical model, which may not fit more traditional ideas of health. Abbott identifies additional potential barriers to treatment, including differences in sociocultural belief systems, disparity in values, and communication. Of approaches from current Western practice that may be the most fruitful in treating alcohol problems among Alaska Natives is narrative therapy, which involves deconstructing the story of addiction or alcoholism and using alternative stories in place of the addiction story. This paper lists the assumptions of the narrative model. 27 references