Alcohol Consumption and Indigenous People: An International Research Symposium

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada September 20, 1998

The ABMRF sponsored this one-day symposium in order to develop a preliminary overview of alcohol consumption among indigenous people and to determine the feasibility of holding a larger, more comprehensive conference on the subject. The symposium was attended by representatives from universities, research institutes, government, health services programs and industry in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. The program focused on topics such as the historic origins and factors influencing alcohol consumption; the sociocultural determinants and biological/genetic factors related to alcohol use; the assessment of factors leading to successful adolescent development amid competing demands of their native culture and that of the majority society; and the ethical/methodologic considerations in conducting research with indigenous people.

The eight presentations were:

• "Alcohol Beverages in Pre-contact North America: An Indigenous Inquiry." Beatrice Medicine, Ph.D., Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
• "The Roots of Aboriginal Drinking Problems in North America: An Interdisciplinary Synthesis." John W. Frank, M.D., University of Toronto and The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Roland S. Moore, Ph.D. and Genevieve M. Ames, Ph.D., Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, California, USA.
• "Risk Factors for Alcoholism in Native California Indians." Cindy L. Ehlers, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.
• "Ethnic Differences in Enzymes of Alcohol Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics." Ting-Kai Li, M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.  
• "Cultural Diversity and Influences on Drinking Practices." Joseph E. Trimble, Ph.D., Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, USA.
• "A Maori Development Model for Addressing Alcohol Misuse." Mason H. Durie, M.D., Massey University-Palmerston North, New Zealand.
• "American Indian Youth and Alcohol: A Study in Ambivalence and Perplexity." Fred Beauvais, Ph.D., Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA.
• "Ethical Guidelines for Indigenous Groups Research." Ross Kalucy, M.D., Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.