Sociological Explanations For Drug Use Among Aboriginal People Of Canada

Write the Three sociological explanations for drug use among aborigines.

Background

Drug addiction refers to the relapsing, chronic disease of brain, which is characterized by constant use and seeking of drugs despite knowing its harmful consequences. Drug addiction has been identified as a major concern among 26.7% of Metis, Inuits and First Nations compared to 14.1% population of Canada. Addiction to drugs among non-aboriginal Canadians is found to be as high as 47.5% due to various social factors such as stress release, socializations and curiosity.  

Aboriginal people of Canada

Aboriginal people of Canada are the indigenous people living within boundaries of Canada. Approximately 1400685 people forming a total national population of 4.3% is found in Canada. They are spread among 600 bands or governments of first nations having languages, cultures, music and art (Popova, 2015). Aboriginals of Canada made permanent settlements, civic, ceremonial, agriculture and social hierarchies as well as trading networks of complex nature. They are Native Americans of United States, Greenland Induit and American indigenous people. Male, female and transgenders are present within the aboriginal people of Canada (Lake, 2016). Genetic studies shows similarities with inhabitants of Americas conjectured in Beringia. They followed Christianity focusing on Angelican and Roman Catholicism. According to Roura-Martínez, (2014), few of them follow indigenous beliefs of traditional thoughts.

Non-aboriginal people of Canada are the later settlers and immigrants of Canada. Approximately 0.5% of world population is made up of Canadians. 41% of the Canadians form first and second immigration generation. By 2031, one-half of Canadians aging 15 years are estimated to be to be foreign-born parents. Total population of Canada currently is 33476688. Male, female and and transgenders are present within the non-aboriginal people of Canada (Samuel, 2014). Religions, legal systems and languages as well as ethnicities are the major cultural products of Canada. Multiculturalism is usually followed with a blend of literature, music, cuisine, art and music (Wallace, 2014). Having an ethnic ancestry from 100000 approximately, 32% Canadians consists of English (21%), Scottish (15.1%), French (15.8%), German (10.2%) and others (37.9%) (Xiao et al., 2014). Genetic studies shows similarities with inhabitants of Americas conjectured in Beringia. They followed Christianity focusing on Angelican and Roman Catholicism. Few of them follow indigenous beliefs of traditional thoughts.  

It is found that approximately 38% of the aboriginal people of Canada are drug addicts. In addition, around 56% of Canadians are drug addicts (Beirness, 2013). Youths with younger age uses drugs to greater extent compared to older people. Around 25.1% of drug addicts use cannabis drugs in Canada. Aboriginal people tend to be lesser drug addicts due to social, cultural and religious constraints. Compared to USA (71%) and Great Britain (72%), Canada has a lower drug addiction of 47% in very serious category, 39% and 14% in moderately serious and not serious category. However, in moderate and not serious category, Canada is on higher percentage than Great Britain and USA.  

Group comparison of social outcomes

Computerized assessment of substance abuse shows that aboriginals are subjected to greater drug use than non-aboriginals calculated over their population. Aboriginals are more infected with HIV/HCV due to infected syringe use for drug. They were usually younger compared to non-aboriginals of Canada during first trying of alcohol (13 years vs. 16 years) and drugs (14 vs. 16 years). Approximately 94% of aboriginals were identified of substance use to 71% of non-aboriginals. It is also found that usage patterns of drugs were similar for both groups (29% vs. 51%).

It is found that 29% of non-aboriginals were categorized as ‘none’ when compared to 6% aboriginals of Canada. Around 24% of the non-aboriginals and 17% of aboriginals were classified as ‘low’ severity. ‘Moderate’ severity were classified to 13% and 16% to non-aboriginal and aboriginal women. ‘Substantial’ severity was categorized to 34% and 61% of non-aboriginal and aboriginal women. Combined use of alcohol and drug on same day were reported for 53% of aborigines and 26% of non-aborigines. Sharing of needles were more frequent among aborigines and 47% of them showed usage of needled drugs compared to 24% of non-aboriginals (Pirie, 2014).

It is found that trouble in relationships, true play and work results to unhappiness and trauma, which aborigines overcome with drug addiction. Greater sexual desire, resolution to psychological problems and urge also contributes to drug intake. 

According to Tremblay, (2013), studies show that over 70% of aboriginal families consist of drug-addicted father, mother and grandparents. It leads to development of similar drug addicted behavior among the child. 

Due to experience of bonding among peers, youths tends to struggle among peers that stress them to use drugs. It also makes them comfortable to socialization making them more confident among friends, crack jokes easily and get self-conscious.

Stress relief is another cause for drug addiction among Canadians, which is highlighted by studies that shows around 23% of Ontario students use drugs to relieve stress.

Approximately 83% of the Ontario students are found to be drinking alcohol at grade 12 out of curiosity. According to Hammond, (2014), due to alcohol use, around 14.6% of Canadians experienced harm in their lifetime that for which 20.6% of the Canadians use Opioid pain relievers. A study has shown average Canadian 14 years old of 23% drinking more than 5 drinks within a period of 2 hours during a month as a fascination. Average drug use begins at 15.7 years of age out of curiosity.

Group comparison based on drug use

Possible policy solution for equating the drug imbalance between aborigines and non-aborigines includes acceptance of drug use as a private activity through governmental control limitation during risky situations. Discrimination in drug use should be banned similar to stereotyping, scapegoating and stigmatization. Government based on drug selling should make restrictions and it should be kept in mind to control the total selling of drugs to minors and teenagers. Human rights should be maintained and drug users should be protected on demand. Political understanding of drug use should be made with well being and health regarding protection of human rights preventing compliance and disease prevention within drug treaties internationally. Drug should not be treated as a criminal offense rather a social, health and political issue (Pirie, 2014).

The Government must present well-researched and effective drug education to the people via schools and aboriginal communities to retard use of drugs. Needle exchange prohibition should be created through awareness among aborigines and non-aborigines through media and other strategies that will be adopted by the Government.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that due to increased addiction and involvement with drug dealers, aborigines and non-aborigines gets associated with selling of drugs. Due to poverty and economic problems, drugs are sold and supplied in Canada. Youths gets attracted to selling of drugs to gain money in a short period. Drug use among aboriginals is more compared to non-aborigines of Canada. Most of the aborigines use used needled drugs that cause various diseases like HIV/HSV.

Reference list 

Ahf.ca (2017). Addictive behaviors among Aboriginal people in Canada. Retrieved 27 Mar, 2017, from https://www.ahf.ca/downloads/addictive-behaviours.pdf.

Beirness, D. J., Beasley, E. E., & Boase, P. (2013). Drug use among fatally injured drivers in Canada. In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Brisbane: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety. 9(4), 1-6.

Hammond, D., Ahmed, R., Yang, W. S., Brukhalter, R., & Leatherdale, S. (2011). Illicit substance use among Canadian youth: trends between 2002 and 2008. Canadian Journal of Public Health/Revue Canadienne de Sante'e Publique, 9(2), 7-12.

Lake, S., & Kerr, T. (2016). The challenges of projecting the public health impacts of marijuana legalization in Canada: Comment on “Legalizing and regulating marijuana in Canada: review of potential economic, social, and health impacts.”. Int J Health Policy Manag, 6(5), 285-287.

Nasr, W., & Phillips, K. (2014). Current Issues in Mental Health in Canada: Directions in Federal Substance Abuse Policy. Legal and Social Affair Division, 6(3), 2-9.

Pirie, T., & Simmons, M. (2014). Cannabis Use and Risky Behaviours and Harms: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Populations in Canada. Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, 1(1), 5-14.

Popova, S., Lange, S., Burd, L., & Rehm, J. (2015). The Burden and Economic Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Canada. Toronto, ON, Canada: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. ISBN, 3(978), 1-12.

Researchgate.net (2017). Alcohol use among immigrants in Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 27 Mar, 2017, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gabriela_Ilie/publication/273782902_Alcohol_use_among_immigrants_in_Ontario_Canada/links/563ecfdc08aec6f17ddabe66.pdf.

Roura-Martínez, D., Ucha, M., Coria, S. M., Higuera-Matas, A., & Ambrosio, E. (2014). Differential Protein Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens and Amygdala of Lewis and Fischer 344 Rats, and its Relevance in Drug Addiction. Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research, 3(2), 1-8.

Samuel, E. (2014). Bases of Early Onset of Drugs in a Sample Population in Atlantic Canada. International Journal of Health Sciences, 2(2), 35-47.

Tremblay, P. C. (2013). Celebrating 10 Issues of the Journal of Aboriginal Health. Journal of Aboriginal Health, 7(1), 1-69

Wallace, B. C. (2014). Evolution in Community-Based Addiction Treatment Driven by the Crack Epidemic: A Professional Time-Line of Psychological Work in the Trenches of the War on Drugs. The Journal of Equity in Health, 3(1), 96-116.

Xiao, B., Bone, D., Van Segbroeck, M., Imel, Z. E., Atkins, D. C., Georgiou, P. G., & Narayanan, S. S. (2014). Modeling therapist empathy through prosody in drug addiction counseling. INTERSPEECH, 2(3), 213-217.