Native Americans are More Likely to be Affected by Alcoholism Compared to Other Groups.

Question

This claim is true however it is not for the reasons many people may think and is not true for all Natives. There is no evidence that there are genetic factors increasing the rate at which Indigenous communities are affected by alcoholism. Abusable forms of alcohol were largely introduced to tribes by European colonizers. With the presence of these colonizers also came traumatic events such as forced assimilation, slavery, and physical abuse that all could lead to mental health conditions that have direct correlations with alcoholism.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/omerawan/2023/11/15/alcohol-and-its-effect-on-the-health-of-native-americans/

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/TEDS-Spot146-AIAN-2014/TEDS-Spot146-AIAN-2014.htm

Answer 1

An article from the National Library of Medicine came up to a similar conclusion saying, "The high rates of substance dependence seen in some tribes is likely a combination of a lack of genetic protective factors combined with genetically mediated risk factors that combine with key environmental factors to produce increased risk for the disorder." After running studies on heritability, linkage analyses, and candidate genes, they were able to come to the same conclusion how Native Americans are more likely to be affected by alcoholism.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3603686/

Comments

Finn, I appreciate that you brought in genetic research as the National Library of Medicine source adds a layer of complexity that’s often missing from oversimplified takes. That said, I think it’s really important to highlight that the presence of “genetically mediated risk factors” doesn’t mean there’s a unique biological flaw in Native communities. The same study you cited also emphasizes that environmental factors such as historical trauma, systemic oppression, and poverty are just as important in shaping outcomes. Framing it as a "lack of protective factors" could reinforce harmful stereotypes if not contextualized carefully. Maybe clarifying that these genetic influences exist across all populations, but interact with social conditions differently, would make your answer more responsible and clear.

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I like the research you provided and the reputable science resources, it helps put not only genetic risk factors into the scope of everything but it helps portray the socioeconomic factors that can and have contributed to it over the years. The depth you went to to not only research and confirm the claim but further provide context was phenomenal.

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I feel like this claim is false, as It is a choice if a person decides to drink alcohol or not. No matter if they are native or not.

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Great job integrating a reputable source like the National Library of Medicine and explaining the genetic and environmental dimensions of the issue. I liked how you balanced scientific findings with a broader social context. For next time, consider briefly addressing the risk of misinterpretation, framing genetic vulnerability without sufficient explanation could unintentionally reinforce stereotypes. A line on how these factors interact across populations might enhance clarity and responsibility.

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Ana, you seem to be making the statement that alcoholism is a choice. While the first few drinks might be a choice, they can quickly turn into dependency that is out of the alcoholic's control-in essence, it becomes a disease. Furthermore, many social factors can contribute to alcohol consumption; peer pressure can cause many people to take those first drinks without much autonomy in the situation. If Native communities engage in heavy drinking, it is customary for others in the community to follow the social norm.

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder

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While it is a fact that Native American communities have had higher rates of alcohol-associated injury such as liver disease and alcohol-attributable mortality compared to other racial communities historically, research confirms alcohol consumption rates are not higher among Native Americans, many drink less or nothing at all. The issue has systemic causes in poverty levels, the legacy of trauma history, and unavailability of healthcare and is not a matter of cultural or biological differences. Labeling the issue as endemic to Native Americans is a disservice and perpetuates negative stereotypes.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4872613/

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Your resource is useful but I do observe that the article refers to a multifaceted interplay between genetics and environment, and by no means does it propose anything to do with Native Americans having an intrinsic and inherent susceptibility to alcoholism. In addition, most studies warn against both generalization between tribes because the rates are extremely heterogeneous. Excessive emphasis on genetics threatens to validate negative stereotypes without considering social and historical context.

Answer 2

An article from the National Library of Medicine states that there is a substantial genetic component in Native Americans as well as other populations. Some groups of people have mutated enzymes that affect the metabolization of alcohol. Although most groups have the protective enzyme Native Americans lack variants seen in other populations.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3603686/

Comments

This is a fantastic answer, that gets into the specifics of things without getting overly long. I do wish it addressed a few of the other claims as well- such as the rate Native Americans are actually alcoholic in comparison to non-natives.

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This is a good reply, but it would be nice to see the validity of the source and have that proven in your statement. Also, the original statement linked three sources while you only linked one of them. This calls in to question the validity of these sources, which were used to fully craft this idea about Native Americans being connected with alcoholism.

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I think that is very interesting how a certain type of person is more prone to alcohol, more than another person, solely off their ethnicity. Is it have to do strictly with their enzymes?

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This is particularly interesting, as many aspects have been under-researched, and the way bodies metabolize alcohol is undoubtedly one of them, which is why I enjoyed the portion of your answer where you touched on the enzymes involved in the metabolism process.

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I think that this is a great response to the claim and presents me information I was previously unaware of. However, I do think it would be helpful to provide more than one source that backs this research. I think it would be especially helpful to provide  a more recent source as well as the one provided was published in 2013. Overall I think you provided an insightful response, and brought up things that sound worth looking into!

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That's a good point about the enzyme differences, but we also have to remember that genetics doesn't tell all. Many Native Americans do not drink at all, and poverty, trauma, and limiting access to healthcare all play a role in alcohol problems. So even if biology plays a part, we don't have to discount the power of the environment and history.

Answer 3

Though it is absolutely true that trauma can increase vulnerability to alcoholism [1], the sources you use to corroborate your claim that Natives are both more likely to suffer from alcoholism and aren't genetically vulnerable to the addiction are both either less credible or older than sources I could find claiming the opposite. The national library of medicine has an article analyzing the number of natives who have a genetic risk of alcoholism. It is increased compared to the non-native population, though it is worth noting that non-native people are also at risk of genetic predisposition to alcoholism as well.[2] An article in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal as hosted on ScienceDirect has a study into alcohol use among natives and found that they were more likely to abstain than non-native counterparts.[3]

SOURCES
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6561398/
[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3603686/
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037687161501830X

Comments

I agree that trauma could be one of ways why natives could drink, but also there are multiple of reasons why people could drink, not including trauma.

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I really appreciate the fact that you labeled which part of your fact check was attributed to your different sources. It helps a lot when other people would want to check out your research, good job!

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I appreciate your point about trauma's role in increasing vulnerability to alcoholism. However, I think it's important to also consider the genetic factors that might contribute to higher rates of alcoholism among Native Americans. The article from the National Library of Medicine suggests there may indeed be a genetic predisposition that makes Native Americans more susceptible to alcoholism compared to non-Native populations. That said, it's worth noting that non-Natives are also at risk genetically. Additionally, the study in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal found that Native Americans are more likely to abstain from alcohol altogether, which shows a more complex picture of alcohol use among the population of Native Americans.

Answer 4

I appreciate your claim and that you point out that the general statement can be misleading. While there has been a documented higher rate of alcohol abuse among native americans, there are numerous factors that play a role in that, including treatment by the American government.

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics-demographics/native-americans

Comments

I agree with your statement! I think the claim starts with a stereotype and can cause misleading or biased information towards those reading the claims. Providing data for not only Native Americans, but also other factors that may contribute, is super helpful to bust the claim.

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I appreciate you bringing nuance into your response — acknowledging the data while also highlighting the deeper historical and social context. Your point about the role of the U.S. government is really important and often overlooked in surface-level discussions. I would suggest a direct quote from your article to better reinforce and justify your factcheck

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I also agree with your response! The original claim seems rooted in a stereotype like another comment mentioned. This lead to a misleading interpretations at first glance. The way you included data on Native Americans along with other factors really helps break down the claim and provide a more accurate picture.

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I agree with your response. I like how you mentioned that there are numerous factors that play a role in this claim of Native Americans having a higher chance of struggling from alcoholism. I would've liked to see maybe another source that documents one of these other factors that aren't frequently mentioned. One could be how alcohol was introduced to Native Americans in the first place. From what I gather, Alcohol came to Native Americans through trade with European colonists.

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I agree with this response and appreciate your lean towards nurture over nature. Although there might be genetic ties to the higher effect of alcoholism in many of the sources provided above, I think a big part of this issue stems from nurture; over the years the environment and stuffle could have potentially affected the nature/genetic makeup.
https://youtu.be/TQhBZAx8DP4?si=S0xUxdnUK-AdV5s3 : In this video, you can get a first-hand look into a reservation community struggling profoundly with alcoholism, poverty, and violence. I believe the initial and continual oppression of Native Americans leads to such an impact on alcoholism.

Answer 5

From the information I have gathered your claim seems to be true. Native Americans have an increased likelihood of getting into substances. Starting from high-school kids start using drugs or alcohol and that sets them up for worse.  

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics-demographics/native-americans

Answer 6

While it is a fact that Native American communities have had higher rates of alcohol-associated injury such as liver disease and alcohol-attributable mortality compared to other racial communities historically, research confirms alcohol consumption rates are not higher among Native Americans, many drink less or nothing at all. The issue has systemic causes in poverty levels, the legacy of trauma history, and unavailability of healthcare and is not a matter of cultural or biological differences. Labeling the issue as endemic to Native Americans is a disservice and perpetuates negative stereotypes.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4872613/