Why You Should Care.
Native Hawaiian Youth & Drug Use
Before 1893, the Kingdom of Hawai’i was an internationally recognized as independent nation. This all changes with the the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778. The indigenous people of Hawai’i (people who can trace their ancestry back to the Polynesians who settled the Hawaiian islands from Tahiti) also referred to as Kanaka Maoli, initially suffered greatly in the early years of European contact as the population was massively wiped out by foreign disease and Kanaka Maoli faced further enfranchisement through the barring of religious and cultural practices.
Among the long list of health disparities that may be attributable to colonization of Indigenous peoples is substance abuse. As with these other indigenous populations of the world, Kanaka Maoli adults and youth suffer disproportionately from substance use related problems (Helm et. al, 2015). Kanaka Maoli adolescents have a higher proportion of initiating drinking by age 12 when compared to Caucasian and other Asian Pacific Islander youths in Hawai'i, report more frequent offers for substances, and report higher use rates than their non-Hawaiian peers (Helm et. al, 2015).
Examples of social and health disparities among particular ethnic minority groups are not new “trends”. From personal experience in academia ethnic/racial disparities in research seem to always tend to comparing Black, White, and Hispanics groups to each other. When statics are used by my peers in class and or discussed in popular discourse, it is mostly assumed that Black populations are always disenfranchised the most, face the most adverse effects, etc. In these conversation Native populations and Native Hawaiians specifically are invisible and absent. Personally, it’s saddening to see that not only did my ancestors face the demonizing of their ways of life and were persecuted because of their cultural practices, but in the twentieth century we as a community are still being left out of discourse when it comes to helping disenfranchised minorities.
It is important to address the health disparities of substance use in Kanaka Maoli youth because they are rarely if at all being recognized as populations to sample in research. For example, when compared to their White, Black, and Hispanic counterparts, much less is now about youths from indigenous communities because of how underrepresented these groups are in national studies like the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (Hawkins, Cummins, & Marlatt, 2004). Researches have even documented the lack of evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs developed specifically for Kanaka Maoli youth (Edwards, Giroux, & Okamoto, 2010).
This need for including Kanaka Maoli youth in national studies and research is essential and relevant because of the high youth populations living in rural areas. Although Kanaka Maoli currently account for approximately 20% of the Hawaii's general population, Kanaka Maoli account for 60%+ of the state’s rural population (Helm et. al, 2015). It is important to address the link between Kanaka Maoli youth living in rural settings because on a national level, higher prevalence rates of alcohol and other drug use have been indicated among rural youth. Differences between adolescent substance use have been thoroughly researched and a constant pattern continues to emerge; rural adolescents are at most risk for substance use (Helm et. al, 2015).
Dear Local Business Owner, the reason why it is essential to allocate resources and time to developing new and noteworthy interventions for Native Hawaiian youth during the period of adolescence is because early onset or use of substances, in the general populations of adolescents, has been correlated with negative life outcomes. Researchers have found that early initiation of drug use is correlated with an increased risk of exhibiting problem behaviors such as 1) legal problems in the real of selling drugs and being charged with violence-related acts 2) driving while under the influence of a substance/substances 3) and lastly exhibiting the behaviors of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse (Winters et. al, 2011). Addressing the issues of unhealthy substance use and substance abuse in adolescence is especially necessary because by providing holistic prevention and intervention programs, we might be able to mitigate the potential negative life outcomes for not only the adolescents who are using and or abusing substances, but for the families, friends, and communities that might be impacted by the individual’s behavior.
Overall, native Hawaiian youth’s increased likelihood of engaging in substance use and abuse is precipitated by the risk factors of ethnicity and living in rural settings. As noted, these youth have often been overlooked in national survey and research to prevent substance use in adolescent populations.
The experience of the importance of the natural, but diminishing resources, spiritual well-being, forced assimilation, loss of native language and culture, and historical trauma is not unique to Kanaka Maoli youth but it is essential to keep as a framework throughout this book. Overall, we need to work on addressing the unique health and social needs of Kanaka Maoli as a way contributing to the global conversation of reducing the heightened substance use and other health disparities faced by indigenous communities.
Among the long list of health disparities that may be attributable to colonization of Indigenous peoples is substance abuse. As with these other indigenous populations of the world, Kanaka Maoli adults and youth suffer disproportionately from substance use related problems (Helm et. al, 2015). Kanaka Maoli adolescents have a higher proportion of initiating drinking by age 12 when compared to Caucasian and other Asian Pacific Islander youths in Hawai'i, report more frequent offers for substances, and report higher use rates than their non-Hawaiian peers (Helm et. al, 2015).
Why Kanaka Maoli Youth & Why Now.
It is important to address the health disparities of substance use in Kanaka Maoli youth because they are rarely if at all being recognized as populations to sample in research. For example, when compared to their White, Black, and Hispanic counterparts, much less is now about youths from indigenous communities because of how underrepresented these groups are in national studies like the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (Hawkins, Cummins, & Marlatt, 2004). Researches have even documented the lack of evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs developed specifically for Kanaka Maoli youth (Edwards, Giroux, & Okamoto, 2010).
This need for including Kanaka Maoli youth in national studies and research is essential and relevant because of the high youth populations living in rural areas. Although Kanaka Maoli currently account for approximately 20% of the Hawaii's general population, Kanaka Maoli account for 60%+ of the state’s rural population (Helm et. al, 2015). It is important to address the link between Kanaka Maoli youth living in rural settings because on a national level, higher prevalence rates of alcohol and other drug use have been indicated among rural youth. Differences between adolescent substance use have been thoroughly researched and a constant pattern continues to emerge; rural adolescents are at most risk for substance use (Helm et. al, 2015).
Malia, why is it especially necessary to devote resources and develop sound interventions during the adolescent time of life? -Local Business Owner
Overall, native Hawaiian youth’s increased likelihood of engaging in substance use and abuse is precipitated by the risk factors of ethnicity and living in rural settings. As noted, these youth have often been overlooked in national survey and research to prevent substance use in adolescent populations.
This is why you should care.
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