The Mid-America Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network (ATTC) and the Oklahoma City Area Inter-Tribal Health Board has developed an American Indian cultural awareness training curriculum with the aim of treating American Indian substance abusers. Incorporating the American Indian culture, the training curriculum focuses on:
community rather than individual education
holistic wellness rather than simply cognitive education
stories rather than problem solving
both inner and outer experiences rather than simply behavioral and cognitive change
strengths rather than on problems and deficits.
Through the Diamond Threshold: Promoting Cultural Competency in Understanding American Indian Substance Abuse is designed for use by American Indian and non-native behavioral service providers, as well as American Indian tribal and spiritual leaders wishing to learn more about substance abuse. While substance abuse in America is a problem that affects people of all races, Through the Diamond Threshold informs us that:
Alcohol dependence is an urgent problem facing American Indian people. Although alcohol use varies by tribe and local area, rates of alcohol dependence are higher for American Indians than other US races.
Although the rate of alcohol-related deaths is over six times higher for American Indians than other US races, on a positive note, between 1972-1974 and2002-2004, the alcohol-related mortality rate declined44 percent
Alcohol use disorders are not just a problem for American Indian men. 20% of American Indian and Alaska Native women had an alcohol use disorder in the past year, compared to 6% for White women, 5% for Black women, 4% for Hispanic women, and 3%for Asian women
Although a national survey found that the percent of American Indian youth who drink alcohol is about the same as other US races, American Indian youth have a higher rate of alcohol use disorders than youth from other US races
Rates of drug use, including marijuana, inhalants, cocaine, and stimulants by American Indian adolescents are higher than in non-Indian adolescents
American Indians use and abuse alcohol and other drugs at younger ages and at higher rates than all other ethnic groups, and die from alcoholism at a rate
519 higher than that of other Americans
American Indians and Alaska Natives die at higher rates than other Americans from homicide (100% higher), suicide (70% higher) and unintentional injuries (150% higher)
The training agenda is a valuable educational tool for those working with American Indians, as well as for those who wish to learn more about the rich culture of Native Americans. The training also includes a segment on the mistreatment of American Indians beginning with a letter written in 1763by Lord Amherst suggesting to Colonel Bouquet that small pox be used to reduce the native population, and follows the fight of American Indians to gain civil rights. It wasn’t until 1924 that indigenous people born in the U.S. were granted citizenship, and the right to vote in a national election. The struggle with substance abuse, particularly alcohol, is another battle American Indians are fighting. Through the Diamond Threshold provides tools to help win the fight.
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