Submitted by a recovering Seneca Addict/Alcoholic
If you ask a doctor what addiction or alcoholism is, they may tell you that it is a chronic brain disease, characterized by compulsively seeking drugs and using them or compulsively drinking alcohol, despite harmful consequences. A doctor may tell you it’s considered a brain disease, because drugs change the brain. He/she may tell you that it’s a disorder, which is a disruption to regular bodily structure and function, caused by the drug use or drinking.
People, on the other hand, have their own opinions about what addiction is and what alcoholism is. Most of the time, people really do not understand what addiction really is. When I say addiction or drugs, I am also referring to alcohol and marijuana, because believe it or not – alcohol and marijuana are drugs too. A drug is a mood altering or mind changing substance that can be introduced to the body, in many different ways. As an addict in recovery, I can’t say anyone is right or wrong, maybe they are all right or wrong. I do know this: there is so much more to addiction and a lot of people are lacking knowledge or awareness when it comes to this matter. I was one of those people. I have learned a lot about addiction, and I have so much more to learn. I have learned that addiction is a very complex entity with a lot of contributing factors to it. Factors such as genetics, environment, and development all play a major role whether someone will become addicted or not. Being Native American, we also have intergenerational trauma on top of everything else.
Being Native American, we have the perfect storm when it comes to becoming addicts and alcoholics. Native Americans with alcoholism is 7.1% higher than the rest of the total population, which is 5.4%. 1 in 6 Native adolescents ages 12-17 engage in underage drinking. This is the highest rate of all racial/ethnic groups. These are just a few numbers reported in a 2018 national survey on the American Addiction Center website. What can we do, as a people, to change those numbers? How can we help those in need? First off, we need to stop putting down and shaming those who suffer with addictions. They do that enough to themselves. Second, we need to educate ourselves. There are some great educational materials available – amazing books and great videos on YouTube. There is also a great community of Seneca recovering addicts and alcoholics who can share with you their stories. Third, is to take an honest look at ourselves and what goes on in our homes. How can we expect everyone else to get better, if we or the activities going on in our homes are not any better? Ask yourself, “What can I change within me – to help my people”? “What can I do to be a better person”? Because in a world filled with anger and hate, we really need to make a change. Dig deep and get connected to love and compassion, which we should have for one another. Please do the research, look inside yourself, and be that change. Every single one of us need to be that change towards love, compassion and understanding.
