Life stories of substance abuse and healing among American Indian families: a two-generation study.

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the intergenerational transmission of substance abuse and healing across two generations of American Indian families. As survivors of historical and ongoing traumatic experiences, American Indian and Alaskan Native families contend with trauma stress and substance abuse issues at higher rates than other racial and ethnic groups. Interviews were conducted separately with two generations of 9 families, resulting in 11 parent and adult child dyads. Summaries of each dyad were presented in a narratives form. Thematic findings from the parent and adult child lifeline narratives were organized into four overarching categories including Life Stories of Trauma, Intergenerational Vulnerability, Red Road to Recovery, and Family Interactions and Roles.