| Description |
Diné people on the Navajo Nation experience elevated rates of suicide, mental illness, fetal alcohol syndrome, and traffic fatalities as a result of alcohol use and abuse, which itself stems from poor mental health12. Alcohol use and abuse can stem from feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness, leading experts to identify substance abuse as a result of poor mental health as one of the leading public health concerns among the Diné (Kunitz, et. al., 1999). Excessive alcohol consumption not only contributes to rising levels of ischemic heart disease among Indigenous groups, but it also leads to an increase in fatal auto-pedestrian incidents. The purpose of this research is to focus on one aspect of this national problem, and to make visible the extent to which alcohol use affects fatal auto- pedestrian incidents on the Navajo Nation using geospatial data. This research will also analyze the effectiveness of Evidence-Based Treatments in Diné and other Indigenous communities as well as where this system fails to address this pressing epidemic. Personal interviews asking both Diné and healthcare providers about their personal experiences and professional opinions were also conducted to further emphasize the devastating effects of alcohol abuse and its effects on the Diné community. |
