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Culture in treatment, culture as treatment. A critical appraisal of developments in addictions programs for indigenous North Americans and Australians

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  • Brady, Maggie

Abstract

Indigenous people in Australia and in North America have been creating innovative interventions in the addictions field for several years now--incorporating traditional healing practices and cultural values into otherwise western programs--although this process is more developed in Canada and the U.S. than it is in Australia. Through a process of cultural diffusion, Australian Aborigines have incorporated many ideas from Native Canadian treatment models. As a result, residential treatment utilizing adapted forms of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is being promoted by indigenous Australians. This paper examines comparative material on the uses of culture as a form of healing and traces the rationale for the argument that cultural wholeness can serve as a preventive, or even curing agent in drug and alcohol abuse. This is a qualitative leap from the now universally accepted notion that treatment and rehabilitation for native people should be culturally appropriate. There are, however, certain dilemmas confronting native treatment directors attempting these syncretic approaches, given aspects of cultural contexts which can serve to foster drug and alcohol use rather than discourage it. Additionally, North American Indians have at their disposal a rich heritage of communal healing techniques; some (such as the sweat lodge) have been adapted and incorporated into the treatment both of solvent abuse by adolescents, and alcohol abuse by adults. In Australia on the other hand, traditional healing techniques have been less amenable to adaptation. On neither continent are indigenous people attempting to adapt recent mainstream models of intervention to suit their needs (such as Brief Intervention) which is currently receiving international attention in addictions research and treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Brady, Maggie, 1995. "Culture in treatment, culture as treatment. A critical appraisal of developments in addictions programs for indigenous North Americans and Australians," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(11), pages 1487-1498, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:41:y:1995:i:11:p:1487-1498
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    Cited by:

    1. Hartmann, William E. & Saint Arnault, Denise M. & Gone, Joseph P., 2022. "Conceptualizing culture in (global) mental health: Lessons from an urban American Indian behavioral health clinic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    2. Bryan Tanner & Ningwakwe George & Laura Jane Brubacher & Melody E. Morton Ninomiya & Laura Peach & Sharon Bernards & Renee Linklater & Julie George & Samantha Wells, 2022. "Navigating Paths to Wellness: A Strengths-Based Photovoice Study Conducted with One First Nation in Southern Ontario, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Morton Ninomiya, Melody E. & Tanner, Bryan & Peach, Laura J. & George, Ningwakwe & Plain, Sara & George, Tracey & Graham, Kathryn & Bernards, Sharon & Brubacher, Laura Jane & Wells, Samantha, 2022. "Anishinabek sources of strength: Learning from First Nations people who have experienced mental health and substance use challenges," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    4. Alaazi, Dominic A. & Masuda, Jeffrey R. & Evans, Joshua & Distasio, Jino, 2015. "Therapeutic landscapes of home: Exploring Indigenous peoples' experiences of a Housing First intervention in Winnipeg," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 30-37.
    5. Currie, Cheryl L. & Wild, T. Cameron & Schopflocher, Donald P. & Laing, Lory & Veugelers, Paul, 2013. "Illicit and prescription drug problems among urban Aboriginal adults in Canada: The role of traditional culture in protection and resilience," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-9.
    6. Ward, Leonor M. & Hill, Mary Janet & Picard, Annie & Olsen Harper, Anita & Chreim, Samia & Wells, Samantha, 2021. "A process of healing for the Labrador Innu: Improving health and wellbeing in the context of historical and contemporary colonialism," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    7. Bryan Tanner & Sara Plain & Tracey George & Julie George & Christopher J. Mushquash & Sharon Bernards & Melody Morton Ninomiya & Samantha Wells, 2022. "Understanding Social Determinants of First Nations Health Using a Four-Domain Model of Health and Wellness Based on the Medicine Wheel: Findings from a Community Survey in One First Nation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, February.
    8. Elaine Toombs & Jessie Lund & Aislin R. Mushquash & Christopher J. Mushquash, 2022. "Predictors of Land-Based Activity Participation in a National Representative Sample of Indigenous Individuals Living Off-Reserve," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.

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