Cultural values can shape people’s attitudes toward substance use and influence their risk of experimentation with drugs. This article examines the relationships between cultural values (familism, respeto, and machismo), fatalism (a culturally encouraged personality disposition), and substance use among Hispanic adolescents.
Full Answer
What are the two sets of beliefs about the use of drugs?
One set concerns the perceived harmfulness of using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; the second concerns the perceived availability of different substances. The relationship between the two sets of beliefs and substance use is also examined.
How does culture affect substance use and abuse?
Sociocultural beliefs can shape the approach to and behavior regarding substance use and abuse. Culture plays a central role in forming the expectations of individuals about potential problems they may face with drug use. 1 For many social groups, this may provide a protective factor.
Can attitudes toward substance misuse and addiction change?
When people begin to understand this, then the attitudes surrounding substance misuse and addiction can change, the stigma and shame still associated wrongly with addiction will be a thing of the past, and those affected may be able to access the proper treatment they need to recover more easily.
Are attitudes to alcohol consumption different by social grade?
On balance, our results imply such concerns are relatively unfounded. We did however detect a significant difference in attitudes by social grade, with participants from lower social grades less likely than those from the highest social grade (AB) to support health care providers routinely addressing patients’ alcohol consumption.
How do drugs affect attitude?
Adults who use drugs can have problems thinking clearly, remembering, and paying attention. They may develop poor social behaviors as a result of their drug use, and their work performance and personal relationships suffer.
How does religion affect drugs abuse?
Faith's Relationship with Substance Abuse Among Adults. The 2001 National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse study found that the adults who do not consider religious beliefs important are more than three times more likely to binge on drinks and almost four times more likely to take illicit drugs.
How does attitude affect recovery?
In addition to affecting health, attitude can significantly affect your chances for recovery success. Recovery requires motivation. Motivation is more than a desire for an outcome. It includes additional elements, such as confidence in your ability and an intention to maintain the desire for success over a long period.
Why is attitude important in recovery?
It's no secret that a positive attitude affects your health. Leading research shows that just thinking positively can decrease heart disease. Optimism is even linked to better immunity. Logically it seems like an addict or alcoholic would just have a positive mindset to get sober.
How does religion help with addiction?
WASHINGTON — Among people recovering from substance abuse, a new study finds that higher levels of religious faith and spirituality were associated with several positive mental health outcomes, including more optimism about life and higher resilience to stress, which may help contribute to the recovery process.
What religions are against drugs?
Some Christian denominations permit smoking tobacco, while others disapprove of it. Many denominations do not have any official stance on drug use, some more-recent Christian denominations (e.g. Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses) discourage or prohibit the use of any of these substances.
What does the big book say about attitude?
According to the big book Step 6 is, “AA's way of stating, the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job.” Having a willingness to change our behavior is the minimal attitude necessary to begin the new behaviors within our newly founded sober lives.
Where has the overblown been deflated and where has the healthy part of me been uncovered?
Where has the overblown been deflated, and where has the healthy part of me been uncovered?" I am neither as great or as worthless as I always thought I was-I am ok! Eric J. Golden Sr.
How do you show gratitude in recovery?
Below are tips for practicing gratitude:Keep a gratitude journal. Recall moments of gratitude daily by recording 1-3 things which you are grateful for, including people, places, objects, moments, and successes. ... Focus on what is important. ... Appreciate the small things. ... Share your appreciation. ... Give back.
Why do Asians drink less alcohol?
Asian Americans, as a group, consume less alcohol than any of the other racial or ethnic groups. Their lower drinking rates may be due in part to an enzyme in their bodies.
What does the Bible say about alcohol?
The Hebrew Bible (which Christians call the Old Testament) mentions several alcohol-related problems, such as the drunkenness of Noah. Proverbs 23:29–35 describes several of the ill effects of intoxication. Yet Jews of Biblical times were known for their moderate drinking habits as compared to other groups of the era. Unlike their neighbors, Jews drank wine as part of their religious rituals rather than to achieve its pleasurable effects. The modern Jewish community has a low rate of alcoholism as compared to other groups. One theory says that the traditional use of wine in religious ritual continues to discourage Jews from abusing alcohol. Yet studies of alcoholism among Jews show that many cases often go unrecognized.
What are the best programs to help people recover from addiction?
In the United States, many health-care workers believe that fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous offer the best programs to help people recover from their addictions.
What is tribal healing?
Traditional tribal beliefs place great emphasis on the spiritual element of human life. For many Native Americans, treating drug and alcohol problems involves an attempt to heal the spirit. Healing may involve coming to terms with the difficult history of Native Americans since the establishment of the United States.
What grade do Hispanics use the most drugs?
A survey of American high-school students found that Hispanics' rates of use for all drugs tend to fall between that of whites and African Americans in the 12th grade, but in the 8th grade they tend to be the highest for all drugs, including alcohol.
Do Muslims drink alcohol?
Islam, the religious faith of Muslims, forbids the consumption of alcohol or any other mind-altering substances, and observant Muslims abstain completely from taking drugs or drinking alcohol. However, some Muslims, particularly men, do drink, and there are some who abuse drugs.
What percentage of respondents agreed that health care providers should ask about patients' alcohol consumption?
Approximately 50% of respondents agreed completely, and 87.9% agreed completely or to a large extent, that health care providers should ask about patients’ alcohol consumption on a routine basis. Fewer respondents agreed completely that health care providers should only ask about patients’ alcohol consumption if patients seek health care to discuss symptoms that could be related to high consumption (29%), or only if the issue is brought up by the patient (21%). Ten percent agreed completely that alcohol consumption is a personal matter and not something that health care providers should ask about. Responses were cross-tabulated with drinking categories (lower-risk versus risky drinkers, see Table 2 ). Risky drinkers were less likely than lower-risk drinkers to believe that people answer honestly when they are asked about their alcohol consumption in routine health care visits. However there were no statistically significant differences by drinking category for all other questions.
Who approved the Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit Study?
The Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit Study is approved by the UCL Ethics Committee (ID 2808/005). In accordance with our ethical approval, all respondents were given a written information sheet about the study, and provided informed verbal consent.
Is alcohol consumption a risk?
Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant risk to public health [ 1 ], and the fifth leading global risk factor for morbidity and premature death [ 2 ].
What is hazardous alcohol use?
1. Introduction. Hazardous alcohol use is well known to increase an individual’s risk of injury due to violence or accidents [ 1.
What did the majority of ED staff believe?
The majority of ED staff felt that something could be done in the ED setting to assist patients with hazardous alcohol use. Only a minority of ED staff in the Waller study believed that the ED setting could do little to assist patients with hazardous alcohol use (33% of physicians, 17% of nurses), a belief also held by a similar percentage of physicians (15%) and very few nurses (2%) in Indig’s study [ 41#N#S. Waller, B. Thom, S. Harris, and M. Kelly, “Perceptions of alcohol-related attendances in accident and emergency departments in England: a national survey,” Alcohol and Alcoholism, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 354–361, 1998. View at: Google Scholar#N#See in References#N#, 47#N#D. Indig, J. Copeland, K. M. Conigrave, and I. Rotenko, “Attitudes and beliefs of emergency department staff regarding alcohol-related presentations,” International Emergency Nursing, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 23–30, 2009. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar#N#See in References#N#]. Attitudes and beliefs related to the treatability of hazardous alcohol use were conflicting across the studies. O’Rourke et al. reported that 75% of surveyed physicians believed that alcohol use disorders were treatable, although 80% of those surveyed also believed that current treatments did not work [ 46#N#M. O'Rourke, L. D. Richardson, I. Wilets, and G. D'Onofrio, “Alcohol-related problems: emergency physicians' current practice and attitudes,” Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 263–268, 2006. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar#N#See in References#N#]. Graham et al. also reported similar conflicting attitudes and beliefs with 77% of surveyed physicians who agreed that alcohol use disorders were treatable, but also believed that they were difficult to treat (97%) [ 42#N#D. M. Graham, R. F. Maio, F. C. Blow, and E. M. Hill, “Emergency physician attitudes concerning intervention for alcohol abuse/dependence delivered in the emergency department: a brief report,” Journal of Addictive Diseases, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 45–53, 2000. View at: Google Scholar#N#See in References#N#]. In contrast, almost all physicians (97%) in the Huntley study believed that treatment could be successful [ 45#N#J. S. Huntley, R. Patton, and R. Touquet, “Attitudes towards alcohol of emergency department doctors trained in the detection of alcohol misuse,” Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, vol. 86, no. 5, pp. 329–333, 2004. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar#N#See in References#N#].
Facing Addiction in America
According to “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health,” published in November 2016, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General, 1 in 7 people in the U.S. is expected to develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.
The Truth: Why Do People Become Drug Addicts & Alcoholics?
Why can some people use drugs recreationally, like cannabis, or drink socially, even heavily on occasion, but they never become drug addicts or alcoholics? What makes them different? How are they more susceptible? Is it really just a question of willpower and self-control?
How Does the Brain Affect Addiction?
While some people may classify addiction as a character flaw, there is actual scientific evidence to disprove that thought. Although the choice to first try a drug may be voluntary, once a person repeats it, it becomes much more and can result in an addiction.
The Fundamental Changes in Brain Function
The above definition states “long-lasting changes in the brain.” So what are the results of these changes? Once substance use has altered the brain’s functioning, the following things happen:
Adolescents & The Addiction Cycle
The above description of both the addiction cycle and the fundamental changes to brain function that occur during the process, apply to anyone over the age of 25 years of age – the age neuroscientists believe is when a brain becomes fully mature.
Never Enough: How the Brain Adapts to Substance Use
In her book, “Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction,” Judith Grisel, Ph.D., renowned behavioral neuroscientist and a Bucknell University Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, writes about a vital feature of the balance between brain function and substance abuse.
Risk Factors: Substance Use, Misuse & Addiction
Earlier in this article, we posed the question: Why do people become drug addicts and alcoholics? The question was mostly answered by our description of both the cycle of addiction and the fundamental changes in brain function that enable the development of substance addiction.
African Americans
- In the United States, many health-care workers believe that fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous offer the best programs to help people recover from their addictions. Others believe that these programs mostly benefit white, Christian males from European backgrounds but may be less well-suited to people from other c…
Asian Americans
- The large category of Asian Americans includes smaller distinct groups, such as Japanese Americans, Filipino Americans, Vietnamese Americans, and Chinese Americans. Each of these groups has its distinct cultural background and its own attitudes toward substance abuse. However, in general, most Asian Americans seem to share a fear of addiction and of injecting dr…
Native Americans
- Native American society is organized around the tribe. Traditional tribal beliefs place great emphasis on the spiritual element of human life. For many Native Americans, treating drug and alcohol problems involves an attempt to heal the spirit. Healing may involve coming to terms with the difficult history of Native Americans since the establishmen...
Hispanic Americans
- Studies show that drug use by Hispanic Americans becomes more likely the longer the person lives in the United States. There is more crack cocaine smoking among Hispanic Americans who have adopted main- stream customs (such as speaking English rather than Spanish) than among Hispanic Americans who maintain the customs of their original country (such as continuing to s…
Christians
- In addition to racial and ethnic groups, people identify with other members of their religion. Within a particular religious group, people share certain attitudes and behaviors having to do with alcohol and drugs. According to some studies, the heaviest, most frequent, and most problematic drinking in college campuses occurs among Catholics and Protestants. However, direct involvement in r…
Jews
- The Hebrew Bible (which Christians call the Old Testament) mentions several alcohol-related problems, such as the drunkenness of Noah. Proverbs 23:29–35 describes several of the ill effects of intoxication. Yet Jews of Biblical times were known for their moderate drinking habits as compared to other groups of the era. Unlike their neighbors, Jews drank wine as part of their …
Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs
- Islam, the religious faith of Muslims, forbids the consumption of alcohol or any other mind-altering substances, and observant Muslims abstain completely from taking drugs or drinking alcohol. However, some Muslims, particularly men, do drink, and there are some who abuse drugs. Among Hindus, alcohol is forbidden for members of upper-caste groups, but Indian men living i…
Treatment Issues
- Successful treatment requires more than prescribing medication and offering basic counseling. Counseling must be based on an understanding of the specific qualities of addiction in various groups. Counselors must also be able to speak the language of the person they are treating and understand the unique family structures and pressures of that person's culture. The challenge is …
Abstract
Introduction
- Hazardous alcohol use is well known to increase an individual’s risk of injury due to violence or accidents [1, 2]. Acute treatment and care for alcohol-associated morbidities are often sought in hospital emergency departments (EDs), with ED patients more likely than primary care patients and the general population to report hazardous alcohol use [3–7]. In 2007, almost 3 million ED vi…
Methods
- Guided by input from the research team, a research librarian developed and implemented a systematic search strategy using language (English) and year (1990 to 2010) restrictions. The search was conducted in February 2010 and updated in June 2010. We used the EBSCOhost portal, encompassing the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Scopus databases to conduct the se…
Results
- Figure 1 describes the flow of studies through the selection process. The search strategies identified 352 studies as potentially relevant. After title and abstract review, 37 papers were selected for manuscript retrieval and full review, with 9 studies meeting our inclusion criteria after full-text review: seven observational studies, one qualitative, and one mixed method study [41–4…
Discussion
- This paper identified significant variation in ED physicians’ and nurses’ attitudes and beliefs towards patients with hazardous alcohol use and their management, which may help explain variations in SBIRT model use in the ED. Findings highlight the need to address key issues that underpinned the attitudes and beliefs: perceived time constraints and...
Limitations of The Study
- This review has several limitations. We assessed the methodological quality of studies based on published methods and did not contact corresponding authors to verify the methods used. As a result, some studies may have been adequately conducted, but the methods were poorly reported. We also did not include studies that explored attitudes and beliefs as a minor objective. As a res…
Conclusion
- Detection of hazardous alcohol consumption followed by BI in the ED setting has large potential benefits due to the wide population that can be captured and a growing body of empirical evidence favoring ED-based SBIRT. This review suggests that attitudes and beliefs of ED physicians and nurses may be key barriers to the widespread uptake of SBIRT for hazardous alc…
Disclosure
- Dr. A. S. Newton holds a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Dr. T. C. Wild is a Health Scholar with Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions.