Investigating addictive behaviours
"There's something going on here." That's what Cheryl Currie first noticed while working as a Research Associate after her master’s degree at the University of Manitoba. Her study centred on gambling in First Nations communities in Ontario, and she spent time living in those communities. “It was clear that some communities were stronger [than others]—had more pride, more sense of community—and these communities were somehow protected from the problems with gambling. That observation stuck with me.”
In her Ph.D. research at the University of Alberta, supported by an AHFMR/AMHB (Alberta Mental Health Board) Studentship, Currie is now exploring the idea that certain factors may protect people from addictive behaviour. She studies Aboriginal people living in urban centres, one of the fastest-growing segments of the Canadian population. Research suggests that urban Aboriginal people exhibit more addictive behaviour than the rest of the population with respect to alcohol, drugs, nicotine, and problem gambling.
“Rather than look only at the risk factors for addictive behaviour—such as poverty, marginalization, and lack of education—I wanted to investigate whether there are factors that protect people from addictions,” says Currie. “Research done in Canada and the United States has identified spirituality, Aboriginal identity, and participation in cultural activities as protective factors. I want to follow this up.”
The research proposal struck a chord with her study advisory committee, made up of 12 members of the Aboriginal community in Edmonton. They welcomed this novel approach, as well as her focus on urban Aboriginal people. Urban residents account for 56% of the Canadian Aboriginal population (61% in Alberta); yet very little research has been conducted on these groups.
Currie tested her approach in a pilot study of 60 Aboriginal students at the University of Alberta. She looked for specific indicators that might show the strength of a person’s connection to their Aboriginal culture, and how these markers relate to harmful drug and alcohol use and problem gambling. The results highlighted the fact that many Aboriginal people living in an urban setting are bicultural: they are connected to both mainstream and Aboriginal culture. “Identifying with both cultures appears to be protective. The individuals who viewed the two cultures as compatible and could integrate them were doing the best. The people who wanted nothing to do with Aboriginal or mainstream culture were struggling.”
For her Ph.D. research, Cheryl Currie will undertake an in-depth survey of about 400 Aboriginal and Métis people in Edmonton to ask more targeted questions.
“I’m excited by this work,” she says. “So much of the news about Aboriginal health is negative, and I do appreciate that there are very serious risk factors. But if we could find protective factors, this would be something positive for people to work with and it would further empower Aboriginal communities.”
Dr. Malcolm King would agree emphatically. As an Aboriginal person himself, he notes that the resilience of Aboriginal people is not always evident, because of the grim health statistics. “And the good news also gets lost when so much attention is paid to Aboriginal people who don’t seem to be in control of their lives. But there are groups and individuals who are showing leadership within their communities. Aboriginal people are learning how to deal better with their own health issues, including health research.”
The research picture is changing, says Dr. King. Prior to 2000 there was almost no research in Aboriginal health in Canada. The establishment of the CIHR’s Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health sparked an immediate surge in activity. This included training of graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, many of whom are just beginning their academic careers.
Now, Dr. King says, we are set for the “third wave”—where Aboriginal people take an active role, perhaps even a leading role, in Aboriginal health research. “We have to fully engage Aboriginal communities—not just as willing partners but as active partners. This is perhaps the most difficult step because there is a training gap. Aboriginal people require the resources and skills so that they can be active participants in research. I’m optimistic, because there are many Aboriginal people willing to take this on. We need to support them.”
About the researcher
Dr. Malcolm King is scientific director of CIHR's Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health. He is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta where he is a researcher in respiratory diseases. He also heads the Aboriginal Health Care Careers program and chairs the University Aboriginal Advisory Council. He is the principal investigator of the Alberta ACADRE (Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environments) Network for Aboriginal health research training.