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African American Culture Report

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Introduction This report will identify and explain the following cultural backgrounds: African Americans, Asian Americans-Pacific Islanders, Hispanics-Latinos/Latinas and Native Americans-Alaska Natives with the purpose of connecting how cultural backgrounds correlate to alcohol and drug treatment. It is in the hopes that this research will allow for the growth of rehabilitation facilities with regard to how they approach treatment for clients with different cultural backgrounds. It’s also hoped that the amount of unsuccessfully treated clients will decrease. Discussion of Findings African Americans have always found hope and support though spirituality within the church. This is witnessed, though out history from the era of slavery to the …show more content…

Alcohol, though being legal is another drug that’s abused within this community. The Hispanic-Latino/Latina is known for its gender roles. They're clearly identified and distinguished within a family. Key values are respect, being attentive to others wants and needs, trust and machismo. Machismo in this community though has shifted from possessing a positive meaning to a negative one. It use to stand for a male that had courage, was strong and was seen as a protector of his family. Its negative meaning though refers to men that are irresponsible, violent, jealous, unfaithful, promiscuous, insensitive to women and may as well be abuse. This can be seen viewed as a personality disorder that when diagnosed, can make recovery extremely difficult and tricky. Hispanics-Latinos/Latinas mainly look within their own cultural group for assistance rather than community services for help. Nancy A. Roget and Gary L. Fisher, the authors of The Encyclopedia of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment & Recovery state that “…Hispanics [that] acculturate to mainstream U.S. society, their rates of substance use problems increase” (Roget & Fisher, 2009 p. 753). Family value and community is essential in the Hispanic-Latino/Latina culture that developing a treatment program that allows for their family to participate is …show more content…

Elizabeth E. Epstein and Barbara S. McCrady wrote in their book Addictions: A Comprehensive Guidebook that “…Native American Indians requires a knowledge of specific tribal customs in order for a counselor or therapist to work most effectively with various individuals of American Indian heritage” (Epstein & McCrady, 1999 p. 512). Understanding that the extended family relationship, a sense of group identity and spirituality play an important role would allow you to determine when to incorporate traditional healing practices into treatment. Reaching out to spiritual leaders for guidance through traditional ceremonies and powwows is another option to consider. Since everyone isn’t spiritual as others this type of treatment many not be suited for every

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