The problem of alcoholism among Native Americans

In actuality, the problem of alcoholism among Native Americans persists. In spite of all the efforts from the part of health care organizations, social workers and communities, alcoholism is still one of the major problems in Native American communities. In this respect, the development of educational programs aiming at the prevention of alcoholism and alcohol consumption in Native American communities are very important because they can contribute to the decrease of the level of alcoholism among Native Americans, but these programs should take into consideration nurturers that may affect both educational programs and their perception by Native Americans as well as their attitude to alcohol.

First of all, it is important to dwell upon positive nurturers, which can contribute to the overall success of health education programs and prevention of alcoholism in Native American communities. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that Native Americans traditionally respect their environment and they perceive themselves as a part of the nature. In such a context, health education programs should show Native Americans that the excessive consumption of alcohol is unnatural and they violate natural laws as they consume alcohol. In fact, Native Americans should understand that alcohol is poisonous for human body. Native Americans can change their behavior positively, if they understand that alcoholism contradicts to natural laws.

At the same time, health education programs should also take into consideration existentialist nurturers. In this regard, the natural environment and social environment of Native Americans can affect consistently their habits concerning alcohol consumption. In fact, the social and natural environment has a negative impact on the problem of alcoholism in Native American communities. As a rule, Native Americans live in remote communities, where the lifestyle is routine and monotonous. As a result, Native Americans feel bored and start consuming alcohol excessively to make their life “brighter”. However, steadily, their habit to consume alcohol grows out into a strong addiction and alcoholism. In addition, Native Americans live in communities, when many people consume alcohol on the regular basis. Therefore, many Native Americans just follow the lead of others.

Finally, it is important to dwell upon negative nurturers. In fact, one of the major negative nurturer is the inheritance of alcoholism by Native Americans. What is meant here is the fact that Native Americans are accustomed to consume alcohol. Their ancestors consumed alcohol on the regular basis that made new generations of Native Americans vulnerable to the development of alcoholism. In addition, alcohol consumption comprises an integral part of traditions of Native Americans. Even though Native Americans had not consume alcohol substantially before the arrival of European colonists but, since the discovery of alcohol with the help of Europeans, Native Americans grew more and more dependent on alcohol consumption developing alcoholism. As a result, today, alcoholism in Native American communities persists and health education programs should ruin not only stereotypes but also traditions of Native Americans to consume alcohol.
Thus, health education programs should take into consideration the aforementioned nurturers which affect the attitude of Native Americans to alcohol and can help or prevent to solve the problem of alcoholism.

 

REFERENCES
Broome, B., & Broome, R. (2007). Native Americans: Traditional healing. Urologic Nursing, 27(2), 161-173.
Cohen, K. (2003). Honoring the medicine: The essential guide to Native American healing. New York: One World Ballantine Books.



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