The Effects Of Alcohol On Native American Culture

Could a substance that is legal in the United State, single handily destroy a Cultural society? Alcohol is considered to be one of the great privileges allowed to be consumed by adults. It is often used as a social lubricant to make an individual more comfortable. Despite the many negative effects it might have, it typically outweighs the resistance to not drink. For decades now, the resistance to not drink in the Native American culture has been a battle. A study was done by the centers for disease control and prevention found out that 66 percent of Native Americans, who died from alcohol related cause, were younger than 50 years old. These deaths come from homicides, suicides and even cardiovascular disease. Alcohol has become an underlying
The problem can vary with gender, age and for the most part the cultural and historical past. From an abstract point of view, the white Europeans who arrived in American brought plenty of alcohol along with other goods. It moved toward that alcohol was deliberately pressed upon the Native Americans. This made alcohol the Europeans number one trade good. This is only the introduction to why the Native American people began to drink. With land being taken over from the Native Americans, being sought to be taught someone who they are not and to lose what was theirs escalated the epidemic. For century’s now the Native American people have chosen to go seek refuge at the bottom of the
Everyone must share in the responsibility. Not just tribal and other governments, but the private sector, churches, community groups, and families must be involved. Education of the community plays an important role in pursuing these forces. As such, education and the media should define the problems in public health terms and propose possible solutions. Education should emphasize especially the collective or structural basis of the problems. It should also promote the public acceptance of the fairness of control measures and a more equitable distribution of the responsibility for prevention among all who have anything to do with the community. A particular focus that might be beneficial is a partnership with those involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of alcohol. Nevertheless, the focus of education should be on the control of the substance, changes in social and institutional structures, and general improvement in the community. The movement should not dwell on the failures of the minority of individuals who suffer the greatest