Affective disorders, substance abuse, and criminal justice among African-American males

African-American Males - correlation between affective disorders, substance abuse and the criminal justice system

African-American Males: The Correlation between Affective Disorders,

Substance Abuse and the Criminal Justice System

The purpose of this work is to research and examine the correlation between affective disorders, substance abuse and the criminal justice system in the lives of African-American males. Further this work will discuss the models of Kimmel and Messner.

Within the theoretical framework of Kimmel and Messner's models one may find the African-American male and the links to behaviors correlating affective disorders, substance abuse and the criminal justice system.

Introduction

According to Wade (1996, 2004): "The current dominant theoretical perspective on men and masculinity is that there are many masculinities." (Brod, 1987; Connell, 1997; Kimmel & Messner, 1992; and Segal, 1990 as cited by Wade, 1996, 2004) The meaning of masculinity and associated norms of gender roles are stated to be the basis of "social constructionism" (Kimmel & Messner, 1989, 1992) Men tend to internalize their conceptions of what forms their masculinity from the culture they live in. 'Socialization' encourages men to attempt to live up to those standards that have been set within the culture. African-American men are "subject to a very different set of influences" socially than their white peers and therefore have a different masculinity as well as their social influences being quite different than those of white men.

Background to the Problem

Wade (1996, 2004) cites racism as being that which has "particular psychological consequences for the masculine identity of African-American men" citing Cazenave, 1984, Clatterbaugh, 1990; majors & Billson, 1992; Segal, 1990; and Staples, 1978) Wade (1996, 2004) further states that "The black man's peer group is a kind of misogynist adaptation some African-American men have made to a racist American society. Norms include sexist attitudes, anti-femininity, aggressive solutions to disputes, antagonism toward other Black men, and contempt for non-material culture. The importance of this group increases with socioeconomic status. The more influence the peer group has, the less likely the larger society will play a role in defining male role norms. The subculture reference group is the African-American community." Within this subculture reference group the gender roles are minimized and men are geared toward roles that are not traditional as the one within societal norms.

Poverty: A Factor that Cannot Be Ignored

Coulborn (2001) cites poverty to be a critical factor in the resulting associated problems of domestic violence, substance abuse and mental problems in the lives of African-American males. Researchers in Chicago found the following statistics in relation to NYC heavy users of drugs among those in detention in terms of gender, race and age. The following figures reveal what their findings were.

Heavy Users in Detention All Detained Youth

Gender Gender

Male 82% Male 83%

Female 18% Female 17%

Race Race

Black 64% Black 63%

Hispanic 31% Hispanic 31%

White 5% White 4%

Other 0% Other 2%

Ages Ages

Source: Callahan (2001) Vera Institute of Justice Report

Treatment Options

Cognitive therapy is one form of treatment for substance abuse as well as collaboration with parents in the treatment options and therapies.

Summary & Conclusion

It is critical to note that the African-American is all too many times the primary face in the United States that is in the bracket delegated to those who live in poverty. That fact, in combination with the extremely pressured and loosely, and poorly defined role of the African-American male as well as the socialization of the African-American male being severely lacking in substantial provision of a role model by which to model themselves toward sadly results in many misdirected and misguided youths of this race leading to substance abuse, and resulting affective disorders and involvement in the criminal justice system. While television and other forms of media clearly set out the boundaries of role models for the white male and female and even for the African-American female, the African-American role is all too often one of negative and decadent behavior which does not serve the African-American male well to model themselves toward. Societal forms of direction for modeling of a positive nature do not exist in qualitative or quantitative form to any great extent leaving the African-American male floundering as to what they should or could represent.

The African-American male in times past suffered untold misery and stripping of their manhood and even in contemporary times the influences of the past are yet present although veiled and semi-hidden. However, the socialization of the African-American male has far to go to bring this individual to the place where they can flourish as individuals and as members of the male race.

It appears that all four of the aforementioned models purported by Kimmel & Messner are relevant in the assessment of the African-American male and the subsequent problems with substance abuse, affective disorders and the involvement of the African-American male with the criminal justice system.