Lecture Notes Session 5

Question 1

What is Culture?

Answer 1

Shared worldview, status, language, social organization, citizenship, technology, symbols

Question 2

What is Ethnicity?

Answer 2

People from diverse cultural backgrounds who share a common national culture

Question 3

What is Background?

Answer 3

Identity with a national and/or shared language of origin, religious practice, dress, diet, holidays or ceremonial events, traditional family rituals, use of disposable income, and leisure activities

Question 4

What is Subculture?

Answer 4

Distinct groupings, resulting from substance use, abuse, or dependence (addiction) and can be applied to groupings resulting from other addictions such as affiliations with bars, gambling, shooting galleries, or crack houses

Question 5

What is Acculturation?

Answer 5

accumulative social learning process in which people assimilate the values of the host culture while retaining the values of the original culture

Question 6

In terms of drugs, what is migration often associated with?

Answer 6

Exportation of favorite drugs from countries of origin such as Khat, Peyote, and designer drugs

Question 7

Cross-Cultural Variables Examples (1-2)

Answer 7

1. A higher proportion of youth among Native Americans influences the prevalence of substance abuse within that ethnic group 2. Mexican attitudes towards women’s alcohol consumption is more negative than when compared to men’s. Therefore, this social norm has a protective effect on the prevalence of women’s alcohol consumption

Question 8

Cross-Cultural Variables Continued (3-5)

Answer 8

3. Differences in an ethnic group’s family stability and occurrence of Domestic Violence may be the result of the prevalence of substance abuse in that ethnic group 4. Extent of recent migration and acculturation factors will influence rates of substance abuse and addiction (seen in Hispanic and Asian populations) 5. The stronger the ties are to the culture and the language of the country of origin, the less likely that group is to use drugs

Question 9

Legal Framework of home and host countries (2 Examples)

Answer 9

1. traditional use of coca leaves in South America 2. Marijuana and hashish in India and the Middle East adds to the cultural disconnect felt by migrants from these countries

Question 10

Biological Factors and Physical Comorbidities (2 Examples)

Answer 10

1. 50% of Northeast Asians have a deficiency in a particular liver enzyme which leads to slower oxidation and adverse effects following the ingestion of alcohol 2. an inactive enzyme may also account for a reduced rate in smoking among African Americans

Question 11

Psychological and Social Factors (1 Example)

Answer 11

Cultures fostering shame and guilt as a means of social control have been reported to facilitate alcohol abuse. So for example, higher rates of suicide among Native American youth following substance use is reported.

Question 12

Culture-bound Syndromes (5)

Answer 12

1. Norm conflict 2. Normative vs. Deviant behavior 3. Socially prescribed use (including religious vs. secular use) 4. cultural change 5. cultural aspects of the clinician-patient relationship