The damage caused to the indigenous peoples of north America by the European colonisers who took their lands is substantial. But since it is deep, emotional pain it is not always readily recognised. One area in which national pain is seen on the surface is in the levels of substance misuse, especially the misuse of alcohol. Drinking rates are significantly higher among the American Indians studied in the paper I first referred to here. In this post I’d like to share some of the disturbing stats that are presented.

By the time they are 18 years of age 96% of AI boys have used alcohol and 92% of girls. Compared to non-AIs, AIs tend to start drinking earlier, use it more often and in higher quantities than their peers. The consequences of such patterns are, of course, the most disturbing thing in this study. AIs are five times more likely to die of alcohol-related causes than non-AIs. Among males, for example, 27% of all deaths are alcohol-related. This is 7 times the rate of the general population.

The figures for the abuse of illicit drugs are not as available as for alcohol, but what is available is a big concern. While the use of other types of drugs is on the decrease, the use of marijuana and hallucinogens are on the increase among AIs. In the 12-17 year age category, for example, the use of marijuana was put at 18.4% (compared to 7% among the general population).

There is a general consensus that alcohol and drugs can be misused in order to self-medicate the emotional pain that is felt. Being drunk or being on a high can take the edge off the pain and make life temporarily more bearable. Unfortunately such misuse can lead to long term problems for these people despite the short term help it offers.