The Historical Implications of Indigenous People and Substance Abuse in the United States

Abstract

Substance abuse is the harmful pattern of using addictive substances in excessive amounts. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), 165 million, or 60.2% of Americans age 12 and older, currently misuse drugs or alcohol (NCDAS, 2022). Research by the American Addiction Centers, a nationwide, leading provider for substance abuse treatment, confirms that substance abuse is one of the most serious health problems in the United States, contributing to the deaths of millions of Americans every year (American Addiction Centers, 2022). Moreover, certain racial groups are disproportionately affected by substance abuse. In data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Indigenous Americans, also referred to as Native Americans, have higher rates of substance abuse than any other race, despite representing 2% of the U.S. population (NSDUH, 2013). 

For generations, substance use disorders have been an ongoing problem among Indigenous people. Findings from the 2018 NSDUH suggest that 10% of Native Americans have a substance use disorder, 4% have a drug use disorder, and 7.1% have an alcohol use disorder (Kaliszewski, 2022). Kristin Fuller, an expert in addiction medicine, emphasizes that historical trauma and European-influenced culture are major variables contributing to increased rates of substance abuse among Native Americans (Fuller, n.d.). With that, rehabilitation services are critical in reducing substance abuse rates among Indigenous communities, but the treatment methods used are debated. According to a medically reviewed journal article by Amanda Lautieri, while there are substance abuse rehabilitation programs available for Native Americans, these programs are highly underutilized due to the providers’ insufficient knowledge of their needs and culture (Lautieri, 2022). Therefore, this leads to the research question of to what extent should substance abuse rehabilitation services for Indigenous people consider alternative approaches to increase effectiveness in the United States?