Information

Perry, S. W. (2004). American Indians and Crime The Bureau of Justice Statistics American Indians and Crime: A BJS Statistical Profile, 1992-2002

 

The Conflict Theory is the sociological theory I intend to use in this analysis and focus on the people who have the highest statistical power, with alcohol abuse. Native Americans have a high percentage of alcohol related arrests. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has recorded that Native Arrests have a higher percentage of alcohol influence or relation. As well as alcohol use by the offender, the percentage was 62% compared to the nationwide average of 42% (December 2004).  These communities have been severely impacted by alcohol abuse, and with these statistics, societal stereotypes are born. The stigma that most natives are heavy drinkers has been so prominent even earning a spot in our piece of American History. In High Anxieties: Cultural Studies in Addiction there is a dedication on the history of the introduction of alcohol. Brodie & Redfield state “the seemingly unstoppable persistence of alcohol abuse among Native Americans” (Brodie & Redfield 2002). From the beginning we never had a good relationship with alcohol, which only grew overtime. 

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Next the lack of understanding for the alcoholic in society only grows the disadvantage, “just put down the bottle”. There are many more factors that play into alcohol abuse than choice, including genetics. Some parts of this social problem left out of conflict theory would be the alcohol companies having disclosures and wording in advertisements such as “drink responsibly”. As well as the organizations have given assistance and inclusion for native Americans that have a dependency with alcohol. In Love on The Rocks, Lori Rotskoff talks on one of these. Alcoholics Anonymous is a non-for-profit organization, wanting to help people staying sober. Rotskoff writes that “both co-founders believed, only an alcoholic could ‘‘talk the same language’’ to another alcoholic” (Rotskoff 2002). This promotes the connection between different alcoholics to support one another through the challenges of staying sober. This complicates how to go focus on the problem due to the fact that there is help available. 

Though there have been intense consequences for the frequency of alcohol abuse in Native American communities, support has been available. Helping alcoholics understand that the factor to their dependency has nothing to do with their character. That they aren’t somehow a worse person for having such an issue. Conflict theory would call for far reaching social change, I believe an adequate form is changing the stereotype of alcoholics. That the factors of history, genetics, and moral support with alcohol can have a significant difference in someone’s alcohol dependency. 

 

References

Perry, S. W. (2004). American Indians and Crime The Bureau of Justice Statistics American Indians and Crime: A BJS Statistical Profile, 1992-2002


Rotskoff, L. (2002). Love on the Rocks. University of North Carolina Press. Love on the Rocks

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