The Role of Multiculturalism in Patients' Treatment - Essay Example

The Role of Multiculturalism in Patients’ Treatment The Role of Multiculturalism in Patients’ Treatment It is generally accepted that before curing any disease and determination of treatment to any patient it is necessary to consider his or her life and lifetime development. In this regard, the background of the patient and the situations and events that have happened in the life are very important, and their studying will help to find the best treatment for DeAwana Danz. DeAwana Danz was born in Selma, Alabama, in 1960. This means that the woman is 55 years now. Her father was a representative of African American ethnic group and the mother was a full-blooded Cherokee nation member, both parents have already passed away. For the past five years the woman has been suffering from drug abuse problem which implies daily heroin injections, however, when she was arrested by the police for prostitution accusations she had such drugs with her as metamphetamine, paraphernalia and marijuana. The time and reason of Ms. Danz’s introduction to heroin are unknown, though it is possible to suggest that this happened after her seeing terrible shame of the military operation in Somalia in 1992 – it is hard to look at the soldiers being dragged dead throughout the entire city. (Iconic Photos, 2010). Her active duty makes 12 years with the honorable discharge in 1993, and the drug abuse problem may be enforced by the fact that her brother was killed in Vietnam in 1971. The woman was a member of the Black Panther movement which she joined in 1977, and three years later she enrolled Marine Corps; for this reason she saw duties in different countries of the world, such as Nicaragua and El Salvador in 1981, Grenada in 1983, Panama in 1989, and the above mentioned Somalia in 1992 which was the last duty after which she discharged. There is information about the patient’s sexual life that she is bisexual, though the fact that she has been arrested for prostitution means that she has to have sex for money making, that is, for profit rather than for biological reasons. The woman is unable to find a permanent job and finds casual labor opportunities which she cannot bear for longer than 6 months. She also enrolled in Community College and Trade school but she did not complete any of the mentioned institutions. It is obvious that the life rich in predominantly negative events and the things she has seen has affected the woman negatively, precisely causing her mental and physical damage with an impact on her military experience, sexual life and inability to take up and complete any activity. The racial component of her life is the thing which negatively affected Ms. Danz’s life since the early childhood as she is a descendant of the two most oppressed racial-ethnic groups, the Native and the African Americans. Even though the woman was born in the 1960s, the time of origin of valuable and important movements fighting for racial equality, her being born to a family consisting of the most discriminated racial-ethnic groups made her suffer, feel enormous pain and humiliations, complemented by the peers; violence and discrimination inequality. Logically, growing up in environment of permanent humiliations, depression and inequality makes the person being worse than the others, especially than the members of the predominant cultural group. Consequently, life expectations become lower than normal and the person may take this state of affairs for granted which deprives him or her of significant opportunities, such as education, well-paid employment, career prospects and so on. Drug abuse of Mr. Danz has cultural background which is easily traced when looking back at the past of her mother’s ethnic group. Historically, Native Americans had to struggle for their lands, rights, lives, and the negative results that they received in the course of this struggle made them seek for emotional relaxation and oblivion which could successfully be found in substance abuse; alcohol was the first and the most widely spread substance abused by this nation. Parents’ alcohol abuse could potentially be passed on to their children which, obviously, was not considered by those practicing alcohol abuse, therefore, it is quite possible that Ms. Danz inherited substance abuse predetermination form her ancestors from the mother’s side. It is not clearly known what relations the woman had with her parents, but the events that passed in her life and the situation which led her to where she is now may evidence that the relations were difficult and, probably, included many conflicts. The fact that the woman practices bisexualism may state that she has lacked harmony and love within the family and tries to compensate this lack that way. Negative emotions that are results of the conflict situations may have contributed to the woman’s practice of substance abuse which she has found to be her salvation from the excessive amount of negative in her life. Ms. Danz reasonably decided to enlist in the Marine Corps to change her life. This provided her with accommodation, food and living, but the real state of affairs, expectedly, was totally different from that officially promoted. Seeing death in reality and being forced to take part in combat actions have made a significant shift in the woman’s mind, and she has taken decision to fall into oblivion by means of heroin taking. The woman supposedly saw the most shameful event of the US army campaigns – dragging of the death mariners through Mogadishu city, which might cause post traumatic stress disorder. Its symptoms may either occur early or years after the shocking events happen, and the latter has happened to Ms. Danz. (Mayo Clinic, 2014). The situation of Ms. Danz needs a thorough attention for the purpose of appropriate and effective treatment finding, and cultural aspect is very important in this regard. It is necessary to consider the patient’s cultural background which gives understanding of her substance abuse reasons and possible ways of its overcoming, for example, psychotherapy with a very delicate consideration of the cultural experience of her nation in the past. The woman also shall be listened to carefully and accepted the way she is without criticism which will help her to reveal her problems better and to full extent. Medical intervention may be needed taking into consideration the fact that the woman takes various drugs for rather a long period of time. Another thing that would contribute to her health is taking up sport or any other activity which shall be practiced together with somebody because, as it has been mentioned above, the woman faces difficulties when taking up new activities and trying to complete them. The woman also must think on getting closer to the Cherokee nation in order to find a solution for her problems and understanding among the same people. References Iconic Photos. (2010). U.S Soldier Dragged Through Mogadishu. https://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/u-s-marine-dragged-through-mogadishu/ Mayo Clinic. (2014). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20022540 Read More