Substance Abuse in African American Communities - Research Paper Example

Introduction The trends within society are based on marginalization and trends that different segments offer through culture. A difference in trends that is noted through specific communities is the difference between African – American and White – American communities. The trends and the different lifestyle that is a part of the majority population of African – Americans includes different susceptibilities within society. The social trends involved cause the African – American community to be more susceptible to substance abuse than the White – American community. This is specifically because of trends, lifestyle acceptance and targeted concepts that are based on stereotypes of the African – American community. Identifying the differences in communities as well as the susceptibility to substance abuse can then show how culture and societal trends affect how individuals work within society. Defining Substance Abuse in Communities The concept of substance abuse is one that is now related to the abuse of drugs, including tobacco, alcohol and heavy drugs. The abuse that is included in this is based on an individual becoming addicted to the specific substance and overusing the drug that is available. The main problem with substance abuse is noted to begin in the 1960s with youth movements which pushed drugs as a part of popular culture. Since this time, America and other nations have increased in the number of drugs that are used as well as increasing levels of drug use that are a part of the nation. In 1990, drug use was rated as the number one problem in America by over 64% of the population. The ratio was considered this high not only because of substance abuse in general, but also because the misuse of drugs also leads to hazards with public health, AIDs and increases in crime (Gerstein et al, 10). Substance Abuse in Communities The amount of substance abuse that is linked to drug abuse is also known to be related to social stigma and cultural identity. According to the cultural – identity theory, drug abuse is specifically linked to the culture in which one belongs to as well as how they relate to peer groups that are in the surrounding area. Creating a sense of association with various groups leads to the use of drugs. The cultural identity theory shows that there are micro, meso and macro levels of culture, each which interchange one’s identity with the use of drugs. At the micro level, individuals and families will feel a sense of comfort by fitting into the main pressures of society, specifically by identifying themselves through specific actions. The meso and macro levels of culture associate with environmental phenomena, both at the local and national level. If the individual sees that substance abuse is accepted in the community, then it increases the likelihood of the individual doing this. More important, if a community sees representations in pop culture and at the macro level of an identity being a part of drug abuse, then there will be a specific identification with culture, race and identity with the use of substances. Each of these intertwines to create a sense of identity when linking to substance abuse as an acceptable part of culture (Anderson, 233). The definition of behaviors which comes from cultural identity is also known to link to stigmas that are surrounding the psychology of individuals. The need to have identity turns into a stigma which is directly influenced by the environment, specifically with the concept of psychoactive substance use. The concept of psychological influences is related to an individual changing how they interact with others to fit into the group. One can become psychologically addicted to a specific drug to fit into the group and to show a sense of identity within the group. This turns into a stigma that is enhanced and supported by the group. However, as this increases with the sense of social control, the drugs turn from a social stigma and into an addiction as well as substance abuse. The psychoactive substances are able to move into specific social networks to create the sense of identity. The substances are known to be more effective in marginalized and minority groups, specifically because there are different needs related to creating a sense of community and identity which interlinks with the problems that occur (Room, 143). Substance Abuse in African – American Communities The African – American communities in the United States continue to be divided and marginalized into specific cultures and segments of society. It is noted that various regions of the United States have higher or lower population of African – Americans. These are further divided into urban, rural and suburban regions that contain groups of African – Americans or other types of marginalized cultures as well as majority races (Straussner, 31). According to Straussner, (2001), clinicians working with African – Americans have noted a direct association with the social stigma and cultural influences on substance abuse and the context that relates to social status in the communities which each group is a part of. The substance abuse begins as a social stigma which is a part of the group; however, it has also been found that the continuous use and addiction is based on the emotional pain and stress of living under circumstances which are oppressive. Racism, poverty levels and socioeconomic status all link to the substance abuse that is a part of the identity of African – Americans within the community (Straussner, 31). The stigma associated with identity not only links to oppression and racism which continues to exist in the African – American neighborhoods which directly influence the social identity of the social group. The economic status and availability to resources also creates a similar epidemic for the substance abuse which takes place. While some marginalized groups of African – Americans have moved into suburban and middle class neighborhoods, many families and groups have remained in the lower class standards that are associated with health care and the ability to receive treatment. In a recent survey (Wells et al, 2027), it was noted that the amount of health care available as well as treatment for substance abuse was divided according to ethnicity. The number of individuals which had problems with substance abuse included 31.9% whites, 28.1% African – Americans and 30.1% Hispanics. Of these groups, African Americans were unable to receive treatment for the substance abuse with 38.6% of the white population receiving treatment and 12.5% of the African – American population and 22.7% of the Hispanic population receiving treatment (Wells et al, 2028). The difference in percentages show that, while substance abuse may be similar among different groups, the inability to receive assistance because of economic and social differences that don’t offer opportunities for recovery. From the lack of assistance available, are social stigmas which arise over the acceptance of drugs as well as cultural identity which begins to associate with drug abuse (Wells et al, 2029). As the cultural associations with drugs and substance abuse continue to increase, are other links that also become acceptable in association with the behavior and development of identity among substance abuse. The more dangerous aspects of social behavior and substance abuse are spread among youth and children. When the older generations don’t receive help for the abuse, it becomes a social stigma among younger generations. The concept of substance abuse then becomes associated with popular culture to further stimulate the concept of identity and abuse within society. The concept of prosocial behaviors that are linked specifically to substance abuse then become accepted and are seen from various points in association with culture and society. The result is a culture specific risk that begins to affect younger and older generations without an association with receiving health care or treatment for the abuse that takes place. While it is found that the substance abuse is increasing among African – American communities, specifically with adolescents and children, the identity continues with a stigma against receiving help, creating a lack of protection, prevention and treatment for the substance abuse in African – American communities (Szapoznik et al, 77). The cultural associations with drugs in African – American communities have led to more specific associations with orientation of substance abuse, especially among children and youth. The identity which has been created in current years is an Africentric set of behaviors which are based on how African – American and marginalized communities should act. It is known that the psyhcobehavioral variables with drug stages lead to 32.5% of youth to abuse drugs (Brook, Pahl, 329). The drug use specifically relates to the Africentric factors and interventions that are associated with drug use. The orientation of Africentric behaviors leads to substance abuse, which creates an expected increase in the use of cultural associations with drugs. The orientation that continues to increase is then passed into different generations, specifically with an identity that African – Americans associate with substance abuse and don’t receive intervention. The psychology related to this is based on community identity and personal identity, while the behavior which is linked to this continues to increase the risk of substance abuse among African – American communities because of the identity associated with using drugs (Brook, Pahl, 329). Conclusion The concepts which are associated with race and susceptibility to different trends can be seen in concepts such as substance abuse. The identity, behavior and psychology that are related to this directly links to different communities and the need to create a sense of belonging within a culture. As substance abuse continues to be associated with culture at an individual, local and national level are also direct links to how the identity reaches marginalized groups. The marginalization of African – Americans is now spreading to an Afrocentric identity that links to substance abuse as a popular part of the behavior. Those with a lower socioeconomic status are directly affected by this because of the lack of health care available as well as the associations that are linked directly to identity and social stigma. The combined lack of resources and the external pressures that relate to psychological and behavioral responses then create a direct association with the community and how it links to identity and culture, specifically in relation to African – American and White – American communities. Works Cited Anderson, Tammy. “A Cultural – Identity Theory of Drug Abuse.” Sociology of Crime, Law, and Deviance (1), 1998. 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