Extract
Exploring culturally-based drug resistance strategies used by American Indian adolescents of the southwest (1).
Abstract
This article presents the findings of a qualitative research study conducted with a group of 19 American Indian students attending a semi-urban middle school in the Southwest. Participants in small gender-specific focus groups reported on the strategies they most commonly use to avoid offers of alcohol and other drugs. Three primary strategies were identified: (1) redirecting, (2) avoiding/leaving, and (3) refusing. Implications for culturally-based substance abuse prevention are discussed, and suggestions for the incorporation of these strategies are made. Key words: American Indian, adolescent substance prevention, culturally-based programs. ********** Exploring Culturally-based Drug Resistance Strategies used by American Indian Adolescents of the Southwest Throughout the 1990s, empirical research has concluded that teaching refusal skills is one of the most effective approaches to youth drug use prevention (Shope, Copeland, Maharg, Dielman and Butchart, 1993; Hermann & McWhirter, 1997; Botvin, 2000). Ethnicity, gender, age, family context, and socioeconomic status have been identified as important factors influencing the type and frequency of use of different refusal strategies (Marsiglia, Kulis, & Hecht, 2001; Moon, Jackson & Hecht 2000; Alberts, Hecht, Miller-Rassullo and Krizek, 1992). Much research on resistance and refusal strategies, however, has given limited consideration to the unique characteristics of ethnic and racial groups. The culture of the child has often been overlooked and research conducted with White students has been adapted to serve ethnic minority students (Botvin, 2001). Recent research has questioned the effectiveness of this approach, especially when one controls for family influences (Barrera, Bi...See the full content of this document
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