The alcoholic implications of colonization (FASD)

Good evening y’all. I come to you with ramblings about the effects of substance abuse (alcohol mostly) on Indigenous populations.

According to some data (linked below), 73% of surveyed Indigenous Canadians reported alcohol as a significant problem in their communities. Similarly, 16% of Indigenous Canadians reported weekly heavy drinking, compared to the general population which only reported about 7%. Based on these statistics alone, it is clear that Indigenous people are disproportionately subject to substance abuse. One study indicated that a major reason for this problem is coping: Indigenous populations experience more adversity due to colonialism (e.g. poverty and cultural severance) and as such experience greater levels of hopelessness, depression, and suicide. These issues are strongly correlated with heavy drinking as a coping mechanism. With additional consideration of generational substance abuse, it is clear that Indigenous populations in Canada are disproportionately affected by alcohol.

Right off the bat in There There, Tommy Orange illuminates one the many consequences of substance use disorders: FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder). Tony Loneman, the first character introduced in There There, has what he calls “the Drome,” a shorthand way of describing a disorder which, for Tony, has both physical and mental impacts. According to the data, 1.2% of Indigenous children have FASD, versus 0.1% of the general population. Considering the rates of substance abuse in these communities, this should come as no surprise.

It is incredibly hard hitting for readers to be (almost) immediately confronted with the harsh effects of FASD as depicted through Tony Loneman. His character is no doubt abrasive – Orange was not writing a textbook blurb. Tony Loneman’s introduction invokes the painful aftermath of colonization in the form of substance abuse and FASD.

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-41-no-9-2021/hpcdp-41-9-05-eng.pdf
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3003989/#:~:text=Introduction,a%20problem%20in%20their%20communities

I didn't know about those statistics, that is really harsh. I know there are more resources available for Indigenous people than in previous years, but I'm curious if there are enough support systems to deal with the pain and lasting impacts of colonization that are behind these problems. Also, would someone in such a low place in their life want to accept help from a society that treated them so badly in the past? How can we make sure that the support systems we have respect and understand the specific challenges that Indigenous communities face?