The Influence of Substance Abuse Treatment among the American Natives - 1650 Words

The Influence of Substance Abuse Treatment among the American Natives (Coursework Sample) Content: Name: Instructor: Course: Date: The Influence of Substance Abuse Treatment among the American Natives Introduction Substance abuse is a sensitive community problem that directly influences the social and psychological well-being of an individual. Notably, various reasons including culture decay, child negligence, weak government policies and limited access to education are factors behind the vulnerability of youth to abuse substances. As a result, the victims of substance abuse become a liability to a community as they suffer from health and mental illnesses. Besides, the American Indians and Alaska natives (AIs/ANs) population is the most vulnerable to substance abuse. Notably, theprevalence of substance abuse is inevitable in all their tribes irrespective of the small percentage composition of 1.7 percent of the overall United States population, which results in a low life expectancy of 4.2 years less than any other non-AIs/ANs national (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 10). Further, the substance issue is persistently been increasing compared to the previous decades, which makes the lives of the American Indians and the Alaska natives miserable and limit their future developments. As a result, different research studies have been conducted to assess and identify the diverse measures that can be implemented to reduce on this health issue which is increasing day by day. Nonetheless, the discussion below intends to critically analyze the effectiveness of the frequently used substance abuse treatment programs to meet the specific Native American communities' culture, where the identity prepares amicable grounds for recovery from addiction championed by these approaches. Successful Substance Abuse Treatments programs Community Reinforcement Approach. The Community reinforcement program has paved a way for an effective treatment of substance abuse among the American natives. Notably, substance abuse treatment is not a one-day operation that any approach can employ to condense this ever increasing American community risk problem. However, gradual actions have to be taken to allow the victim adapt to the changes championed by the treatment approach. Besides, the studies give credits to community reinforcement approach for the strategy it employed of computerized and web-based treatment interventions. Further, in a bid for the allow the victims to intrinsically motivate themselves and heal from substance abuse, therapeutic education systems (TES) were introduced to aid the abusers during the process of the treatment. Moreover, this computer-based technology has not been implemented in some areas, but according to various research studies, it can be the most appropriate treatment intervention since it has more advantages that the evidence-based intervention (Dickerson 47). The computer-based intervention gives an opportunity to the beneficiary to access treatment at a low cost, less threatening and provides great anonymity regarding the patient's sexual behavior and drug abuse. Further, the program saves the government from the burden of spending on training and recruitment and facilitation of staff, as well as lessening the biased attitude of the patients that they may suffer from stigmatization after unveiling their problem to the attendants. Therefore, implementation of the community reinforcement program is the best alternative regarding treatment of substance abuse among the American natives (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 10). Community-Based Participatory Research. Community-based participatory research is among the most substance abuse prevention strategies employed by the states and organizations in a bid to combat drug addiction. Notably, community-based participatory research has been employed in the most vulnerable communities like among the American Indian tribes and Alaska native and success has been registered. Besides, this approach is grounded on practical and empirical evidence and it uses thefirst-hand information to handle a particular health behavior incorporating the ideas of the victims (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 10).Moreso, community-based participatory research is implemented after public awareness of its cause, which enables the victims to be own part of its cause. As a result, the local patients never at any time feel biased or stigmatized during thetreatment process, and it is cost effective as little money is budgeted for this program due to the fact t hat it requires less staff to be implemented (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 36). Moreover, community-based participatory research programs are contextual specific as it encourages a given type of treatment for substance abuse taking into account the culture and background of the particular community, hence dwells on anexplicit description of patients never generalize theory. Therefore, the Native Americans feel free to embrace treatments under the umbrella of community-based participatory research, since it incorporates their ideas and leaves the people to own the treatment process (Dickerson 23). Evidence-based program. Evidence based program is a medical approach to substance abuse. Notably, this approach has been utilized for the past centuries due to its appropriateness regarding substance abuse treatment. Evidence based is comprised of different treatments given to a patient after collecting strong evidence that the victim is addicted to a specific substance. Besides, the program involves the use of well qualified medical professionals who study the victim to prescribe a relevant treatment. The program has been successful and the patients have trust in it because of its ordinary clinical setting. However, the current research indicates that respective of the fact that evidence based approach operates effectively, it is not sustainable due to a high cost of administration associated with it. Moreover, evidence based programs have been successful towards controlling Tobacco and Opioid addiction among the Native American, hence should be embraced to flourish to ensure a hig h increase in substance abuse prevention (Lowinson 19). Programs Using the Indigenous Culture Element Drumming. Notably, this is a traditional substance abuse prevention program that involves the promotion of healing and self-expression. Notably, drumming has been implemented in most of the Native American communities where the population is vulnerable to substance addiction. Especially, this program has been implemented in the communities which are occupied by the Indian Americans and the Alaska Native tribes due to its ability to handle diversity in the background of the target audience (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24). Besides, drumming is commonly known for its drum-assisted recovery therapy for NativeAmericans (DARTNA) that treat drug abuse as its main opponent. Nonetheless, it should be noted that substance abuse in the American Indian and Alaska native is higher in the adult population who claim to be ok with the evidence-based treatments, which are costly and require much budget and staff facilitation. Further, although some American natives suggest continuing receiving treatments in the clinical setting, the current research studies show that it is not sustainable. As a result, traditional-based substance abuse prevention programs take the advantage over the clinical setting treatments after failing to address contextual specific interventions. Nonetheless, drumming gains grounds from there due to its flexibility in addressing substance abuse prevention (SAP) in the United Statescommunities with unique cultures and values (Campbell 48). Drumming has been utilized for the past centuries, and it is championed due to the similarities it shares with the cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which all together emphasize emotional, feelings and thoughts awareness as well as helping the victims to adapt to the new health behavior (Walker and Perry 28). Besides, the research approves that drumming has a positive biological effect on the minds of the patient as its fundamental regarding withdrawal from theaddictionto a particular substance. For example, drumming involves, personal reflection, singing and chanting, these rhythmic auditory activities stimulate the theta and alpha waves responsible for confirmation of the ideal meditative condition. Therefore, drumming comprehensively emphasize the spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions as well as helping the patient to integrate the new health behavior changes, hence an ideal tradition SAP program. The Role of Identity Identity plays a significant role regardi...