Topic: Alcohol use in the Aboriginal Canadian population.
Title: “To investigate ethnic differences in alcohol consumption among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadian university students.”
The entrenching acculturation of the indigenous Canadian population is known to be a major cause of the long standing and deeply routed physical and psychological health issues experienced by the Aboriginal population, as compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Studies show that alcoholism is greatly increased in this population, particularly starting during the adolescent years.1
A study by Cheah et al researched “The role of acculturation in the emerging adulthood of aboriginal college students” in Canada. The purpose of the study was to look at how acculturation impacted upon early adulthood across the following criteria: (a) perceived adult status, (b) perceived criteria for adulthood, (c) achieved criteria for adulthood, (d) personal beliefs about the future, and (e) risk behaviours.2
I will be exploring this idea of acculturation in the Aboriginal youth further using a questionnaire targeted at Canadian university students from all backgrounds. It will take the form of an online, anonymous questionnaire and an information page explaining the purpose of the study will also be provided.
Questions for the survey include:
- How many units do you drink weekly, if at all?
- Where does your alcohol come from?
- How much do you pay, on average, for a week’s supply of alcohol?
- Where do you mostly drink?
- Who do you drink with? Or do you drink alone?
- Why do you drink alcohol?
- Have you ever felt you need to cut down on your drinking?
- Have people ever annoyed you by criticising your drinking?
- Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
- Do you ever use alcohol as an eye opener?
The main reason for choosing this topic is because clear disparities exist in health outcomes between Aboriginal and immigrant Canadians. By exploring further the causes behind the increased level of alcohol consumption in the Aboriginal population, I will look to ultimately focus on treatment and prevention strategies. The overall aim of this study is to provide solutions to tackle the growing rise of alcoholism in the native population.