Substance Abuse and Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous elders around Canada, the United States and Australia, have had a history of negative experiences such as colonization, oppression and assimilation. Many were removed from their families or communities, forced into residential schools where they were stripped of their language and culture. The treatment of these groups of individuals has created severely damaging effects both on the micro and macro levels. Castellan (2008) as cited in Kirmayer, Whitley and Fauras (1996) stated that "Aboriginal peoples in Canada have faced distinctive forms of adversity. They have been marked by colonization, cultural oppression and expropriation of land and resources”. (14)

Unfortunately many of the elders that have been touched by those tragedies have not been able to cope with the pain they have suffered in their pasts. In order to hide the pain and torment that they are feeling, many have turned to various types of addictive substance.  The inability to cope with the suffering that occurred in the residential schools has lead to various forms of abuse being insidious in Aboriginal communities today. Not only has this trauma had an impact on the survivors, it has had a sustained impact on their families as well. (Indian Residential Schools, 1994)

In additional to the negative psychological effects that have been experienced by all persons involved, there have been impacts to survivor overall health, leading to higher rates of substance use disorders than seen in the general population. (Kirmayer et al., 1996) The use of drugs and alcohol has been found to be common and dangerous problem among the Indigenous people of Canada, and one that warrants a high level of concern. (Aboriginal Health, 1996)

It is however difficult to calculate the percentage of elderly from the Indigenous population, who are substance abusers in Canada as there is a lack of  available statistics regarding the percentage who are substance abusers. Reading (1999) mentioned there is a need to conduct more detailed longitudinal surveys on the health and social services needs on First Nations and Inuit elders, as there are no questions regarding alcohol consumption, drug use and abuse currently in those surveys.  

Although there are many different substances that are abused by Aboriginals, alcohol abuse is the most common. Statistics and research indicate the high percentage of alcohol amongst Aboriginal communities, "Alcohol use is of great concern to people in First Nations and Inuit communities. Surveys show that  around 75% of all residents feel alcohol use is a problem in their community, 33% indicate that it’s a problem in their own family or household, and  25% say that they have a personal problem with alcohol " (Khan, 2008)

The excessive use of alcohol use by seniors can endanger their lives and physical health. “Drinking at an older age can have additional negative effects: exacerbate some medical conditions, reduce the ability to function, increase the risk of falling, negatively interact with medication” (Buddy T, 2009) The consumption of alcohol can cause a variety of adverse physical effects to numerous systems such as: the heart (high blood pressure), liver (cirrhosis), digestive system (malnutrition and vitamin deficiency), neurological (problems with speech, actions, and thinking) and finally bones (fractures and breaks). (George, n.d)  

Substance abuse has affected our Indigenous population mentally, emotionally physically and spiritually. There is a need for all levels of government, health care professionals and communities to recognize and provide health and financial needs. Nickens (1990) states that “In order to change the health status of minority populations, health professionals must take into account the values, attitudes, culture and life circumstances of the individual. If we are to achieve salutary changes in the health status of minority populations , health professionals and designers of health programs must cope with the extraordinary diversity of the Indigenous  populations” (p.3)

In order to prevent solvent abuse and provide treatment for substance abusers, Indigenous people need to be educated about the effects of substance abuse. There is a lack of treatment centres on reserves and even within urban areas. The government needs to support the building of more drug treatment centres and traditional healing and counselling services need to be established in order  to start the process of healing our Indigenous people.  

Arlene