The Effects Of Alcoholism On The Native American Population

Most people do not end up becoming alcoholics because they are completely satisfied with their life, happy and joyful, and drinking only to celebrate. Yes, it is highly likely that genetics play an important role in the formation of the disease, but a majority of alcoholics drink because they have endured some great trauma. This can either be from trauma from an outside source or emotional turmoil from within. The difference between an alcoholic who drinks because of instances of domestic abuse or clinical depression versus a Native American alcoholic is that the average person’s alcoholism is symptomatic of individual experiences. Alcoholism among the native population is encouraged by overwhelming and uncontrollable outside cultural forces. This is all to say that when Louis writes about his recovery from alcoholism and the effects of the disease on the Native American population, he is reaching beyond the surface implications of excessive drink and moving toward the causes and conditions of that substance abuse. Alcoholism is representative of the struggles the people on Pine Ridge Reservation endure because of EuroAmerican oppression. â€Å"Beer, blood, soil, home† writes Louis on page 46. It is all one-in-the-same, representative of a larger trauma that needs to be healed. The Art of Confession While the act of confession carries a distinctly Roman Catholic connotation, it is a universally recognized practice. Murray-Swank et al. write, â€Å"Confessional rituals within IndianShow MoreRelatedIntegrating Holistic Modalities into Native American Alcohol Treatment1295 Words   |  6 PagesAlcoholism is identified by severe dependence or addiction and cumulative patterns of characteristic behaviors. 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