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Substances such as sugar and honey were not used in the aboriginal diets, and the use of abusive substances such as alcohol or other min-altering psychoactive agents with the exception of tobacco and the 'black drink' were not common or problematic (French, 2000).
Prior to the introduction of alcohol the natives were seen as fit, athletic and lean people, whereas the people of today are often seen as obese and sickly (French, 2000). Today the dietary practices and substance abuse habits of natives run rampant. Among Native Americans alcohol abuse is considered the norm rather than the exception to the rule (French, 2000). Many tribes are no longer recognized, and many natives live in a state of displacement as they are forced to live on inadequate spaces that don't come close to representing the vast land they used to occupy.
Recently tribes have become less concerned with their blood degree and many traditional Native Americans are refusing their genetic heritage (French, 2000). Intertribal mixing is not uncommon, a habit adopted after European interaction and cultural assimilation among the Native Americans (French, 2000).
Clearly the most relevant factors that have contributed to the substance abuse problem among Native Americans include a sense of cultural disruption or "cultural genocide" and the tremendous lifestyle habits and changes that were adopted after the English introduced themselves to the land (French, 2000). The natives diet, lifestyle, level of activity and even appreciation for themselves as a unique culture rapidly diminished...
In addition there is a generally inaccessibility to adequate health care facilities and a tremendous lack of preventive programs for health improvement among the population, all of which can contribute to an increased abuse of alcohol and other addictive substances (French, 2000). Most natives probably content themselves with living an impoverished lifestyle and have to turn to substances to take their mind off of the poor quality of life and healthy they must endure day after day.
Living in an impoverished state has likely perpetuated the cycle of ill health that native Americans endure today. It is important to remember that prior to the introduction of the English on American soil, the Native American people did not live a life that was marginalized; they lived a life that was very ethnocentric and natural, one that promoted health and well being. The English brought with them not only bad habits and a disrespect for their culture but also quantities of alcohol and other substances that have led to terrible addictions, which may take centuries to eliminate among the Native American people.
References
French, a. (2000). Addictions and Native Americans. Westport: Praeger
Parker, L. (1990). "The missing component in substance abuse prevention efforts: A Native American example." Contemporary Drug Problems, 17(2), 251-270
Thomason, T.C. (2000). "Issues in the treatment of Native Americans with alcohol problems." Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 28(4): 43
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