Psychology

The Indian American communities are believed to have some history in the engagement of alcohol and drug abuse. Many resulted to the act due to the continued loss of lives, land and the depressing government policies which ruled their land. The communities are therefore said to consistently suffer form the post traumatic stress disorders. Many people ended up engaging themselves in alcohol consumption either as a mean of socializing or sharing the trauma. The habit however only worsens the current situation in the region as alcohol consumption creates a false mentality which lasts for a short while. Originally, alcohol substance was meant for ceremonial purposes some of the nations even went as far as strictly forbidding the non-ceremonial consumptions. The restrictions were meant to address the increased chronic alcohol addictions in the region.

The cultural alienation in the native America children who were mostly sent to boarding schools far away from their parents perpetuated the substance abuse to majority of them. The cultural alienation further accelerated the weakening of the Native American communities who were previously guided morally. The loss of culture is believed to be the major cause of social problems also associated to the substance abuse in the region. Other major physical, mental and psychological disorders have been observed as a result of the continued substance abuse in the region. This paper seeks to address the therapeutic treatment for the drugs and alcohol abuse in the Native American region.

PurposeThe topic is not widely recognized in general public but is a bigger issue within the specific population.

Considering the social and financial problems that faces the Native Americans in Idaho, proper and well coordinated therapeutic programs should be initiated. The social harassments for the young girls and women have been a major cause of traumatic stress within the society. Such psychological experiences mainly deter and influence the victims behavior and concentration in schools.

Therapeutically designed programs therefore need to be established within the social and educational institutions so as to assist the affected communities. Considering that there is a huge number who have resulted in alcohol consumptions as they seek to run away from the reality, haste decision should be found for the communities. It should be understood that delay inn countering the PTSD which currently affects the community will just add up to more severe impacts as alternative measures will be sort by the victims (Nebelkopf  Phillips, 2004, p.14). Once the PTSD effects becomes too much for the victims to control, they end up indulging themselves in alcohol and drug abuse activities. The PTSD among the native victims currently leads to the rise of social injustices in the region. Few but to mention are the continued tribal wars, torture, rape and natural disasters in the native lands. The financial losses have also been on the rise and as a result given rise to family problems such as divorces and marriage breakages. There are much social violence which stresses women and children in the Native American region as rape and crime rate increases. These social problems are mainly caused by the alcohol and drug abuse. In addition the PTSD also greatly contributes to these abnormal behaviors. The reported cases of the homicides, suicide and theft cases have been on the rise especially in Idaho and Washington.  The behavior is however common in the Indian tribes in this region (Witkiewitz  Marlatt, 2007, p.141).

From the survey cultural beliefs and practices and poverty among the communities have greatly contributed to the substance abuse among the communities. Additionally, the PTSD has led to moral deterioration among the youths in the regions. People therefore have feared to invest their money in such places as the insecurity is on the rise. The economic operations and activities in the region have therefore been significantly below the required and normal level further impoverishing the communities. The hopelessness and joblessness in the region causes some sever PTSD making the communities to live in constant fears. Some has constantly had some intrusive re-experiencing of their past traumatic memories such as rapes and combat previously encountered.  Native American communities have therefore ended up avoiding such intrusive memories throughout their lives. They therefore live on denial a condition which bars people from the reality of life. The PTSD also causes some physical tension among the victims which consequently affects their psychological peace. They therefore experience sleepless, angered and tensed life throughout their lives (Wekerle  Wall, 2002, p.106). The insecurities have therefore greatly contributed homicides among the Native American communities. The extreme addiction of the substance also causes trauma and guilt among the victims who end up committing suicides. The respective authorities and government in the Native American countries therefore needs to critically address this issue as it not only affects the current but also the future generation of its population.

To bring awareness to topic, especially with the possibility of working with the local Native American population in order to critically address the issue PTSD and alcohol abuse in Idaho, it is important that the counselors implement a behavioral activation treatment technique as it addresses the depression issues within the Idaho locals. The technique will first enable the victims to come out of their stressors and depressing moments giving them a fresh beginning in life. It should be noted that the majority of alcohol and drug users are mainly on their denial stage. The denial stage therefore makes it completely difficult to assist such victims since the stage is coupled with a lot of resistance. In order to equally cater for the PTSD the victims should be provided with therapy session which will assist them to overcome the painful and disturbing pasts. Therapy treatment will also assist the victims to accept their past in order to enable them focus into the future. The public awareness campaign should be created in order to provide a well broad based communities and tribal supports which will eventually enable the reductions of substance abuse. The awareness should however be more directed to the youths in order to cater for the countries future. Drug abuse also leads to psychiatric and co morbid effects among the drug users (Fullerton  Ursano, 2009, p.163).

The government should therefore lay some economic plans which will empower the communities in order to eradicate hopelessness amongst them. This will enable them divert their energy and strengths to more creative and viable ventures in life. Quite a good number of the young generation can also end up developing their own careers in sports and other recreational fields thus assisting them to raise their self esteem. The authorities should also seek to launch prevention training among the teachers and healthcare workers in order to increase their knowledge and skills capacity. This will enable them to be more equipped when assisting substance abuse victims. Special projects such as early identification and treatment of substance abuse and options for substance abuse treatment and relapse prevention should be established in order to cater for the many victims that the region has. These special programs should also seek to assist the special groups of people such as the pregnant, mentally and physically disabled persons in the society. Treatment Goals
To identify contributors of PTSD and Substance Abuse-Dependency within specific population
 The behavioral conditions in Idaho and Alaska show that the majority of the people living there encounter traumatic experiences. Programs such as exposure therapy should be undertaken as the majority of the victims avoid talking about their past. Such therapy sessions will assist the victims to fully understand that therefore is no need of hiding from their past. The adolescent and young generation with stressing and traumatic past should also be assisted in order to overcome such difficulties.

It is important to consider therapeutic treatment as it assists the victims suffering from the PTSD to overcome the hardships they encounter in their daily lives. Since the Indian American communities are the most affected culprits, therapeutic sessions should be established within their localities in order to assist and treat the addicted victims. The treatment will therefore ensure that alcohol and drug free environment is obtained as the communities reverse their culture to uphold more dignified way of life.

To address the role of acculturation and how it maymay not contribute to PTSD and Substance Abuse-Dependency
Since the traditional beliefs and customs among the Idaho communities encourage alcohol drinking as a socialization factor. It is important that the theraputical treatment take note of the cultural values. In order to win the cultural beliefs, the treatment should major on addressing the negative consequences of the alcohol consumption. The counselors should let the Idaho communities know that PTSD and alcohol and drug abuse worsens the economic position of the community. The stress disorders also deny the individual chance to exploit their full potential in their daily activities. Considering that the majority of the Idaho people are self employed, then less participations means less output. The traditional norm that bars the women from participating in economical activities increases the PTSD among the women.

For perfect solutions to be found cultural changes which will economically and socially uplift these people ought to be made. Only such plans can efficiently enhance the Indian American people to quit from substance abuse and also overcame the PTSD. Treatment Needs  IssuesEducated counselors regarding specifics of Native American culture and views on drug  alcohol addiction and PTSD
The counselors should understand that the Idaho communities first need to be economically empowered. The self esteem among the population should be uplifted in order to ensure that self respect is elevated. Therapy Programs which assist the young generation overcome their PTSD should also be incorporated within the formal educational curriculums (Hillard, J  Hillard, 2008, p.317).This will not only assist the adolescent children to live a stress free life but will also increase their understanding and concentration capacities is academics (Zayfert  Becker, 2006, p.213). It is also important to understand that the unemployment and economic dependency in the region heightens the PTSD among the communities. By economically empowering the Idaho indigenous people the counselors will not only solve the PTSD problems but also the alcohol and drug abuse problem within the community (Kimerling, Ouimette  Wolfe, 2002, p.251).  Counselors getting involved with family, tribe, elders, etc

The counselors should also ensure the support of different social classes in the region. The family, tribe and elders of this Native Americans must approve the treatment programs that the counselors might opt to use. Measures should also be established to improve the environmental conditions among the Native Americans. Solutions to the cultural conflict, post traumatic stress and low self esteem among the youth should be resolved in order to attain a permanent remedy in these communities. The substance treatment should therefore aim at creating a cultural heritage that honors and incorporate some cultural values such as family cohesiveness and dignity. The tribal knowledge will also enable the counselors to effectively communicate with the victims and the society at large. Educating clients on progressive nature of drug  alcohol addiction compounded by the challenges of PTSD

Consistent community training should be established among the native communities. In order to effectively manage the large communities, it is important to divide them into smaller manageable groups. During the session let them understand the dangers associated with both alcohol and drug abuse and PTSD.  In order to effectively sensitize the clients on the drug abuse effects it is important to psychologically prepare them on the challenges that they are bound to encounter such as the PTSD. It should be noted that the post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) if not well managed can result to continued substance use as the victims feel much disoriented without the substance (Williams  Banyard, 1999, p.223). This is mainly because their mental and physical functioning usually depends on the substance.Addressing level of acculturation and how it relates to and interacts with drug  alcohol issues and PTSD

It is important to understand that the cultural environment plays a big role in molding the individuals behaviors. Well articulated treatment which takes into account the behavioral and cultural values of the Native American should be developed. It is also important to understand some of the political, economic and social problems which may have been necessitated the creation of PTSD among the Native American communities.

How should Native American and non-Native American counselors address issues
The native and non-native American counselors should seek to address the root cause of the substance abuse in the region. Since the effect is greatly on the youths then proper programs should directed towards them. This should be done through raising their financial and self-esteem capacity among the individuals in the communities. Therapeutic sessions should be undertaken in order to uplift self esteem and also enable people to overcome the PTSD. Such sessions will greatly help the community move out of their current degrading condition.

Where should treatment take place (i.e. on reservation or other location in community)
It is therefore advisable for that prevention programs be launched in schools and other learning institutions in order to assist the young generation identify and understand the drugs impact on their lives. Such programs should also be spread around the communities settings in order to ensure that the youth dont suffer from traumatic disorders. There should also be some development of recreational and cultural events aimed at uplifting the self esteem of the populations within the Native American. This is because most of the abuse comes as a result of low esteem among the people within the communities.Should we talk about counselor self-awareness and multicultural counselingThe counselors themselves ought to be aware of the consequences and effects of substance abuse in order to effectively play their advisory role to the rest of the communities. Considering the cultural diversities in the Native American land, it is important that counselors should undergo some multicultural counseling sessions to familiarize themselves to the different cultures. Assessment  Treatment OptionsSince the research shows that the PTSD and substance abuse among the Idaho communities is yet to be resolved. The indigenous communities have continued living under extreme poverty, experience which results to stressing moments empowering them will do them great. It is notable that majority of the Alaska population indulge in substance abuse while still young and mostly in their high school level. There is also an intensified suffering if PTSD among the youths, something which distort them from their normal operations. The majority of the students parents are low income earners who consistently struggle to maintain their families. There are no effective remedies initiates by the state to eradicate the vice.

The already established divisions of behavioral health and recovery (DBHR) in Idaho are relatively low compared to the magnitude of the problem. More programs should be established in order to cater for the rising victim numbers. The program should be state funded and in order to ensure that all the victims are equally and adequately treated for the PTSD. Qualified and competent personnel should be enforced in order to ensure quality result is obtained.

The addiction severity index and burns depression checklists collected among the native Americans living in Idaho shows that the drug and alcohol addictions has greatly risen. The severity of PTSD among the young schooling generation is also very high. Approximately one out of the ten students seems to have experienced a traumatic past in their lives (Carise et al, n.d, 1-17). This past experience has negatively affected their concentration capacity in classes and thus their performances.
It is also notable that the alcohol and drug addiction level in the society have risen thus increasing the dependency level among the people. The communities are therefore living under extreme poverty due to the heightened unemployment level. The hopelessness amongst the youths has also intensified the crime rate in the region. The ASI-NAV research undertaken shows that the current economic condition is worsening in the region (Barbour, 1997, p.276). Quick decision therefore ought to be undertaken in order to rescue Idaho communities.

Employmentindependent living concerns
Most of the Native Americans, suffering from PTSD belong to the low income class and therefore there is need independent income sources to uplift their living conditions. In addition, even the counseling and treatment programs are costly and it is in this view that various alternatives have established in order to improve the welfare of the people in the area. For instance, the government has established a compensation system especially for the war veterans suffering from PTSD. Basically, the national Center for PTSD ensures that the lives of veterans with PTSD as well as those of their families are taken care of through financial and treatment support. There are other agencies that promote the living conditions of the natives including the Recruiting for Information Technology Age (RITA) which links women suffering from PTSD with local employers while at the same time offering them training and soft skills support. The initiation of community programs aimed at ensuring the participation of PTSD patients not only provides an opportunity for rehabilitation, but also enhances them with a chance social cohesion as well as personal development.

Successful Outcomes
Diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of PTSD has significantly contributed to the improvement of health as well as the living condition of the Northwest people. Therapeutic programs have been successful in offering a lifeline to the people suffering from PTSD by offering counseling sessions as well as rehabilitation centers that enhance their focus on their personal lives and adjusting them for the better. Recreation facilities offered by these centers have been very vital for recovery process, for instance, the Sun Valley Adaptive Sports has helped many disabled people through recreation especially the war veterans.

The field counselors advices the government on the severe consequences of the continued substance abuse in the state. Moreover, they have come up with a culturally defined treatment plans especially for the youth which will enable acceptance in the communities. The programs include tribally sponsored chapters of national youth organizations, physical challenge programs that use tribal culture and environment, and peer support groups for students whose main aim is to share feelings and thoughts in an environment that promotes native heritage and social life. In this case, the counselors promote the acculturation level by incorporating the native traditional practices in their treatment plan and the use of group therapy sessions.