Native Americans in Recovery...What seems to work best?

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

I'd like to hear input from others regarding their own observations/assessment of how successful the straight AA model for addiction recovery is/has been for our Native American brothers and sisters. Is it sufficient? Is it found lacking? Is it generic enough for all to benefit or too generic that it fails to address key aspects of culture to be successful? I'd like to see some input and discussion on this, especially from members of American Indian/Native American descent. Also, if you are American Indian and respond to this post, which do you prefer to be referred as....American Indian or Native American (which is most correct?)?

[zenman]

I'm only part Indian but I think most prefer Native American. Give us our land back, dammit! :chuckle

Don't know about AA and Native Americans.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I'm part Cherokee. To me Indians are in Asia. I prefer to be called by my people's country Cherokee. Just kidding since I'm not even sure I'm spelling it correctly. But my great-mother was Native American and I think the term "Indian" should refer to Asian Indians. It's like people in Africa calling themselves "Americans" that would bug me.

Can't address the issue about recovery though. Good luck with that. :)

[Jo Dirt]

My great-grandmother was an Indian (American). I wouldn't mind being referred to as an American Indian.

Don't know about American Indians and AA but went to the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming and the poverty was pretty sad. Bright pink and blue government houses, people there didn't look too happy or enriched with life. I was reading about the reservation and fetal alcohol syndrome and low birth weight newborns is a common problem. I can't understand the attraction of alcohol because drinking never did a thing for me, but can understand how they might feel stuck in a rut and hopeless and turn to drinking (I hear meth is becoming a large problem among the Natives as well).