ABSTRACT
In their recent article, N. Spillane and G. Smith suggested that reservation-dwelling American Indians have higher rates of problem drinking than do either non-American Indians or those American Indians living in nonreservation settings. These authors further argued that problematic alcohol use patterns in reservation communities are due to the lack of contingencies between drinking and "standard life reinforcers" (SLRs), such as employment, housing, education, and health care. This comment presents evidence that these arguments were based on a partial review of the literature. Weaknesses in the application of SLR constructs to American Indian reservation communities are identified as is the need for culturally contextualized empirical evidence supporting this theory and its application. Cautionary notes are offered about the development of literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, and policy recommendations for American Indian communities.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/ethnology , Indians, North American/psychology , Alcoholism/psychology , Humans , Motivation , Reinforcement, Psychology , Risk Factors , United StatesABSTRACT
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) adolescents use tobacco at earlier ages and in larger quantities compared to non-AIAN peers. Regular tobacco use was examined against five protective factors (peer networks supportive of not using drugs, college aspirations, team sports, playing music, and volunteerism). Participants consisted of 112 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 who participated in a study testing the efficacy of a life-skills program aimed at reducing substance-related consequences. Findings indicated that, with the exception of prosocial peer networks and volunteerism, each of the above factors was significantly associated with a reduced probability of being a regular tobacco user. Gender differences were notable. These results hold important treatment implications regarding the reduction and prevention of tobacco use among AIAN youth.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/ethnology , Indians, North American/statistics & numerical data , Inuit/statistics & numerical data , Smoking Cessation/ethnology , Smoking/ethnology , Adolescent , Alaska/epidemiology , Cultural Characteristics , Female , Humans , Life Style , Male , Sex Distribution , Smoking Cessation/statistics & numerical data , Smoking Prevention , Tobacco Use Disorder/ethnology , Young AdultSubject(s)
Community Participation/methods , Community-Institutional Relations , Cooperative Behavior , Ethics, Research , Indians, North American , Advisory Committees , Communication , Ethics Committees, Research , Health Services, Indigenous/ethics , Humans , Oklahoma , Research Design , United StatesABSTRACT
There has been an increasing call for and development of culturally appropriate substance prevention/intervention for ethnic minorities in schools and communities, especially among reservation and in urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. Past attempts to intervene in and reduce misuse of alcohol and other drugs have not had great success. The Journeys of the Circle Project utilized innovative programs with a strong emphasis on historic cultural traditions.
