Indigenous Supports for Recovery from Alcoholism and Drug Abuse: The Native American Church

Abstract

Native American Church (NAC) members often find themselves victims of discrimination in alcohol/drug treatment because of sacramental use of peyote in their church services, despite anthropology and religious scholars having long provided anecdotal observations of alcoholism recoveries through the NAC. This participant observation research developed a grounded theory of supportive factors found in the NAC. Departing from a Western medical model that focuses on peyote, these NAC members emphasize a spiritual process and the vast and supportive network of their church as the primary supportive agent. A model of social work collaboration with the traditional process of the NAC is offered.

Keywords:

• Native American Church
• Indians
• North American
• traditional healing
• substance abuse treatment
• peyote