Integrating Holistic Modalities into Native American...

Alcoholism is identified by severe dependence or addiction and cumulative patterns of characteristic behaviors. An alcoholic’s frequent intoxication is obvious and destructive; interfering with the ability to socialize and work. These behavior patterns may lead to loss of work and relationships (Merck, 1999). Strong evidence suggests that alcoholism runs in families (Schuckit, 2009). According to a study published by Schuckit (1999) monozygotic twins were at a significantly higher risk of alcoholism if one twin was an alcoholic. Ehlers, Lind, and Wilhelmsen (2008) conducted a study to investigate the influence a single opioid receptor on alcohol dependence rates among Native Americans. Ehlers, et al. (2008) noted that people with lower†¦show more content†¦Inadequate nutrition secondary to alcohol consumption is not uncommon as the disease progresses (Merck, 2009). In 2004, 34.3% of El Paso county residents ages 18-25 and 17.8% of all adults reported binge drinking on at least one occasion (â€Å"El Paso County,† 2006). In the 2004 publication by the El Paso County Health department, Colorado was ranked second in the country on overall substance abuse severity and fifth on the alcohol problem index. In 2009, El Paso County’s population was reported to be 604, 542 people with 1.2% of the population reporting as Native Americans (â€Å"US Census,† 2010). Salimbene (2005) notes that from 1997-1999, alcoholism among Native Americans in the US accounted for 47 per 100,000 deaths and in 2002 the death rate from alcoholism was 7 times higher than the rest of the population. Spector (2009) adds that the son of an alcoholic father is three times more likely to abuse alcohol and out of the top ten leading causes of death among Native Americans, alcohol can be linked to three (unintentional death, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and suicide). Current available therapy for the treatment of alcohol is based on three different theories. Two popular and successful therapies are cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and twelve step facilitation (TSF). CBT is a directive therapy that is focused on changing the way that patients think about alcohol (Villanueva, Tonigan, Miller, 2007). TSF is another