Addiction and Native Americans - Research Paper Example

Reports by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2001 to 2005 indicate that 11.7% of Native American and Alaska Natives are alcohol-related; in the general population, only about 3.3% is credited to alcohol deaths (Associated Press, 2008). Deaths among Native Americans were mostly due to traffic accidents, alcoholic liver disease, homicide, suicide, injuries, and falls. Alcohol-abuse is also a risk factor in some of the common illnesses found among Native Americans and Alaska Natives like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and colon cancer (Associated Press, 2008).

A great percentage (66%) of alcohol-abusers among the native population was below 50 years of age. Drug use and abuse is also increasing in the Native American population with methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine use rapidly increasing in the past several years. The Public Broadcasting Service (as cited by Tarzana Treatment Centers, 2009) revealed that Native Americans are five times more likely (as compared to whites) to die from alcohol-related causes with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis being among the top six leading causes of death among Native Americans.

These diseases do not even belong to the top 10 causes of deaths among the whites (Tarzana Treatment Centers, 2009). This study released by the Associated Press points out the importance of culturally appropriate interventions for alcoholism and alcohol-related health problems among the Native American population. These statistical figures paint a grim picture on alcohol and drug use and abuse and the related problems that come with such abuse. They also present challenges for the health care professionals and government officials in addressing this problem.

Alcohol and drug abuse among the Native Americans has to be understood and studied in their historical context. Their history has been riddled with violence, poverty, discrimination, and abuse from the dominant White population in America. As a result,