Introduction
Health disparities are one of the serious concerns impacting the quality of people’s lives. Although the current age focuses on cultivating equality and tolerance, the problem of racism remains topical. Its manifestations impact individuals and limit their chances for successful personal and professional development. For instance, in the United States, Native Americans suffer from extremely high rates of smoking and alcohol abuse compared to other ethnic groups.
It reduces the level of well-being, shortens lifespan, and creates the basis for the emergence and development of chronic diseases and numerous complications. Race and ethnicity are the major factors linked to these disparities. For this reason, the situation can be improved by introducing community programs aimed at changing the environment and providing support to minority groups.
Statistics
Statistically, Native Americans remain among the most vulnerable groups suffering from numerous health issues. For instance, American Indians and Alaskan Natives have the highest rates of smoking (29,9%) compared to other groups (Reiter & Reiter, 2021). Moreover, the rate of alcohol-induced deaths is 6.6 times higher in this cohort compared to other ones (Reiter & Reiter, 2021). It means that the situation is critical and requires specific attention.
Causes
The causes for the emergence include biased attitudes and environmental racism (Reiter & Reiter, 2021). Native Americans more often live in communities with unhealthy behaviors, poor awareness of health issues, and a lack of necessary resources (Reiter & Reiter, 2021). For instance, tobacco smoking has always been a part of this cohort’s culture. For this reason, specific interventions should be focused on considering and altering this factor.
Programs and Services Addressing the Problem
Smoking
In such a way, the first possible intervention is designing a program for cultivating healthy communities. Most Native Americans live in closely related societies characterized by specific cultural and behavioral patterns that are dominant at the moment. For this reason, cultivating healthy behaviors is the first step toward attaining better outcomes (Reiter & Reiter, 2021).
It is essential to alter the idea of the cultural importance of smoking and stop cultivating it by the media and brands. It would lead to the emergence of the new idea of a healthier community. Moreover, it would help to reduce the impact of passive smoking on other community members.
Alcoholism
Speaking about alcohol abuse, a radical change in access to community resources is required. Poverty, poor education, and the unavailability of particular resources are elements of institutional racism that also impact engagement in abusive behaviors. For this reason, the program aimed at training Native Americans and providing them with jobs can be viewed as an intervention that might help to attain better outcomes and reduce alcoholism rates (Reiter & Reiter, 2021). The communities should also be supported with rehabilitation centers to help those who want to quit and engage in healthy behaviors, as, at the moment, there is a lack of social support for members of the minority group.
Conclusion
Altogether, the high levels of smoking and alcohol use among Native Americans can be viewed as the result of discrimination and racism. The health disparities peculiar to U.S. healthcare impact this population group and the quality of their lives. The culture, environmental racism, and the lack of resources affect the well-being of this group and their chances for successful development. For this reason, it is essential to focus on raising awareness about the discussed health issues and providing social support to Native Americans. Altering the environments and communities where they live will help to create a healthier environment and reduce smoking and alcohol abuse rates among them.
Reference
Reiter, Miranda, and Abigail Reiter. 2021. Introduction to Health Inequalities: A Social Science Approach. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.