Fighting firewater fictions moving beyond the disease model of alcoholism in First Nations

Summary: "In Fighting Firewater Fictions, Richard W. Thatcher describes and explains the emergence and perpetuation of the 'firewater complex' - the cultural construct of understandings and stereotypes surrounding alcoholism in First Nations reserve communities." "Alcoholism has been considered by many to be an inevitability in the First Nations. Thatcher explores how this attitude has resulted in certain aspects of collective and personal responsibility being neglected in favour of a reliance on therapeutic interventions, often of questionable merit. He argues that this situation has had the effect of relieving government policy makers and reserve leadership from accountability for problematic community development strategies that have long outgrown their usefulness." "Thatcher contends that the conditions that give rise to high alcohol abuse rates in First Nations can be traced to a large extent to feelings of hopelessness associated with multi-generational unemployment. Fighting Firewater Fictions calls for community reorganization around a band development policy that looks beyond the reserve, and outlines a strategy that involves a shift from the current emphasis on the treatment of alcoholics towards a more holistic approach, including counselling and non-residential services that address the real needs of potential or actual problem drinkers. This is essential reading for anybody working in, or seeking to understand, aboriginal communities that are experiencing problems with alcoholism."--Jacket.

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