Authors: Laurelle L. Myhra, MS, LMFT

Publication Year: 2017

Last Updated: 2017-04-20

Journal: American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research - Monograph Series

Keywords: Urban AI/AN, Inter-generational transmission, Historical trauma, Substance abuse, Sobriety maintenance

Abstract:

The aim of this exploratory study, which was informed by ethnographic principles, was to better understand the intergenerational transmission of historical trauma among urban American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in culturally specific sobriety maintenance programs. The results of the study were organized into 3 overarching categories, which included 10 themes that emerged contextually in relation to participants’ lived experience of historical and associated traumas, substance abuse, and current involvement in a culturally specific sobriety maintenance program.

This exploratory study was conducted to understand the relationship between the intergenerational transmission of historical trauma and sobriety maintenance among urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), in order to inform substance abuse and sobriety maintenance programs. According to data collected over the past decade, AI/ANs are in greater need of treatment for substance use disorders than are members of other racial/ethnic groups (National Survey on Drug Use and Health [NSDUH], 2010). Between 2002 and 2005, AI/ANs over the age of 12 were more likely than members of other racial/ethnic groups to report an alcohol (10.7 vs. 7.6%) or illicit drug (5% vs. 2.9%) use disorder in the past year (NSDUH, 2007). According to data collected between 2004 and 2008, although the use of alcohol over the course of a month was lower among AI/ANs than other racial/ethnic groups, the rate of binge drinking among AI/ANs between the ages of 26 and 49 was higher than the national average (NSDUH, 2010). Likewise, illicit drug use among AI/ANs age 18 to 25 was higher than the national average (NSDUH, 2010).

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Source: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ954182.pdf