Ethnocultural Paper: Italian Culture and Its Impact on Subst

It is believed there is a close link between alcohol and culture. Ethnocultural theory of understanding the interrelations of alcohol and human behavior are that “ways of drinking and of thinking about drinking are learned by individuals within the context in which they learn ways of doing other things and of thinking about them--that is, whatever else drinking may be, it is an aspect of culture about which patterns of belief and behavior are modeled by a combination of example, exhortation, rewards, punishments, and the many other means, both formal and informal, that societies use for communicating norms, attitudes, and values” (Heath,1982). Thus, how we learn to drink and continue to drink is determined most by the drinking we observe, the attitudes about drinking we pick up, and the people we drink with. This paper will discuss the Italian culture and its influence on substance use.

Italy’s location in Europe was assessable in traveling from western and eastern Europe, which allowed this country to be invaded easily by foreigners. Additionally, Rome is the center of the Catholic Church, which attracted many foreigners to make pilgrimages

Initially, Italians living in United States thought of themselves as outsiders, which allowed them to continue their cultural norms such as the way Italians looked at alcohol. However, as generations of Italians became more and more Americanized, they became “susceptible to many of the problems found about the rest of the U.S population, including the abuse of alcohol and other drugs” (Straussner, 2001). For Italians, "adaptability and stoicism became ethnic trademarks. Rather than attempting to alter the course of events, Italians took pride in their ability to cope with difficult situations. Resilience became more than an attitude; it became a way of life (Femminella & Quadagno, 1976;). Due to the responsibility and authority placed on the family, Italian Americans have tended to turn to the family for help in solving problems, and not toward available mental health services (Cleary & Demone, 1988). "When they do seek help, the problem is likely to have reached a serious level, and they may feel shame about not being able to handle the difficulty themselves" (Giordano & McGoldrick, 1996). “The cultural beliefs of a group of people are directly related to how alcohol and other drug problems are defined. The very definition of health differs by ethnicities and cultures” (Straussner, 2001). This paper discussed how every client comes to treatment with a history, some personal and some going as far back as when their great-great-great grandparents immigrated to this country, as did the Italians. Clinicians need to recognize the differences of each of their clients and be open to understanding the history they are bringing to their treatment. “Understanding the unique characteristics and core values of Italian Americans and their families can enhance the clinician’s sensitivity aid the client retention, and improve substance abuse treatment effectiveness” (Straussner, 2001). Clinicians should be aware of the values placed on the Italian family as well as the reluctance to trust outside the family, for the clinician to provide the optimal treatment (Straussner, 2001).

to this holy land (Rotunno & McGoldrick, 1982). “With little protection or support from the st

Some topics in this essay:
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