FREE ESSAY ON DEAF CULTURE AND ALCOHOLISM

DEAF CULTURE AND ALCOHOLISM

Deaf Culture and Alcoholism
Abstract
Why is it so hard for the deaf to deal with admitting they are alcoholics or drug addicts
which is an impediment for recovery? Why is it so hard for them to stay sober once they
have achieved it for a few weeks or months? What do you think the main reasons are? 
Having worked with the deaf for over 30 years I will try to answer these questions and
research other aspects of the deaf culture, their mode of communication and alcoholism. 
Although it may seem that communication is an aspect of every culture, two of the unique
features are that there is not always a common language between parents and child, and
there is no written form of the language. Thus, the deaf culture becomes unique, and
through this uniqueness, they become isolated both from their peers and the hearing
population.
According to Marie Egert Rendon in her article, Deaf and Alcohol and Substance Abuse
"Substance abuse is a sensitive issue about which the deaf community does not yet feel
comfortable talking. For many with in the community, it remains a moral issue; the denial
of pathological drinking is very strong." (Rendon, 1992)
Isolation is a well-known stressor and the denial of alcohol use in the family unit has
long existed in the deaf community. The family structures and the cohesiveness of the
family in their form of communications is a factor that must be considered. The deaf have
had limited or strained access to their own cultural rights. They have been denied the
right to their own language, their own community groups, and even have limited access to
the majority culture because of communication barriers. Because of the sense of
oppression, isolation has perpetuated the denial process. In addition, language, family,
friendships, and services available to the deaf culture and native language have many
innuendoes.
"Since the deaf culture is built around the language that the deaf people use- American
Sign Language (ASL)- the culture is rarely accessible to the hearing world, due to the
difficulty of mastering ASL." (Rendon, 1992)
Family communication includes several dimensions, among them the mode, content and
structure of communication. Mode of communication is frequently raised in discussions
about communication within families having a deaf member. Communication mode use refers
to the use of speech, sign, or some other method of face- to-face communication. (Kluwin,
1990)
Because of these barriers and other misunderstandings, alcohol and drug recovery
treatment programs remain inaccessible. In addition to the recognition of communication
difficulties, alcohol and drug service providers need to be acknowledgeable about deaf
cultures, sensitive to the deaf issues, and aware of preferred methods of communication,
including the use of interpreters, both in treatment programs and in recovery groups.
(Luetke-Stahlman, 1994)
One of the biggest problems is that the deaf do not have sobriety long enough to be of
help to other deaf people. Although that is beginning to change most are still dependent
on the hearing to a degree. As the years go on the length of sobriety continues to grow.
The problem of alcohol and substance abuse in the deaf community is a reality. The
culture of the deaf often provides a shelter and a barrier to recovery by encouraging
isolation and denial. Little by little, information and education are bringing members of
the deaf community into treatment programs and, thus, the cycle of repeated alcoholism
can be broken. There are treatment programs that are specifically designed to serve the
deaf, and there are programs that have some services for the deaf. However, this breaking
down of the isolation and denial barriers requires continued efforts on behalf of a
community already stretched to its limits. The deaf alcoholic or drug-addicted individual
can achieve recovery only when advocacy promoting and achieving accessibility is the
reality and not the rarity. When the deaf community openly admits that regardless of
culture, race, or creed, alcoholism and drug abuse affects all cultures and that recovery
is a right for everyone. It is not a stigma, and it is definitely not a moral issue. This
is a lesson we need to be aware of and be of service to the deaf population. 
There are many more AA groups in the greater Los Angeles area today than ever before. The
deaf community is still somewhat untrusting of the hearing community even in the
closeness of the Alcoholic Anonymous home groups. It has been my experience that the deaf
meeting that have been held for the deaf only have not faired as well as the meeting with
more sobriety and with a regular ASL interpreter. There are still not enough meetings as
the hearing, but great improvements are being made.
Bibliography
References:
Rendon, M., (1992) Deaf Culture and Alcohol and Substance Abuse. Journal of Substance
Abuse. Vol. 9, pp. 103-110 
Kluwin, T., (1990) Communication in Fostering Cohesion in Families with the Deaf. Journal
of American Annals of the Deaf. Vol. 139, No. 3 
Luetke-Stahlman, B. (1994) Social Interactions with Regard to Students who are Deaf.
Journal of the American Annals of the Deaf. Vol. 140, No. 3
Duff, J., (1981) The Truth About Drugs. Los Angeles, California: Bridge Publications,
Inc.