Tobacco – Cash Crop or Sacred Smoke

Tobacco – Cash Crop or Sacred Smoke

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011) However, tobacco use can be greatly distinguished by how it is used; either for its addictive properties or, for its use in spiritual prayer and offering. Western mainstream culture has glamourized the use of tobacco and it was often associated with romance, relaxation and adventure. (Tobacco. Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs, 2008). There is another aspect of the use of tobacco – the spiritual aspect which encompasses people’s beliefs, identity and spirituality.

Before the arrival of Europeans in America, Native Americans were growing and harvesting tobacco to be smoked in pipes. Europeans exploring America learned of this practice and took tobacco seeds back to Europe where tobacco was grown and used as a medicine to help people relax.  (Tobacco. West's Encyclopedia of American Law, 2005) It wasn’t until the early seventeenth century that commercial production of tobacco began in the colony of Virginia where it became an important crop. Between 2000 and 2010, world cigarette production increased by twelve percent. Today, cigarette companies produce nearly six trillion cigarettes per year. (The Tobacco Atlas, 2012)

Each year, an estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and another 8.6 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking. Despite these risks, approximately 46.6 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes.  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). However, the tobacco commonly used today is not the same as the sacred tobacco used for Native American prayer, ceremonies and spiritual offerings. According to the Lakota elders, commercial tobacco use is described as casual, unspiritual, and destructive to health and culture, while “cansasa” (traditional tobacco) is used to promote spirituality, interconnectedness, humility, hope, and respect. Additionally, the tribal elders linked strong positive messages connected to traditional tobacco use (i.e.: spirituality, respect, health and wellness, humility, thoughtfulness) and suggested strong negative messages linked to addictive commercial tobacco (i.e. crime, loss of control and self-esteem, lack of respect to self and others, sickness and death). (R. Margalit, 2013)

The historical Native American ties with the sacred tobacco leaves are deeply rooted in their cultural beliefs. In the Hopi culture, every important ceremony is started with the sacred ritual of smoking naturally harvested Hopi tobacco. A man belonging to the Tobacco clan fills a clay pipe with dried tobacco leaves and then the pipe is lit by a man from the Fire Clan. The men ingest the smoke and fill it with pure thoughts of good things for all mankind. The smoke is not inhaled; it is only kept in the mouth to be filled thoughts and prayers coming from the heart. The smoke is then released into the air, reaching high into the heavens. It is symbolic in the way the Tobacco plant was once rooted deep into Mother Earth and how the cloud of smoke carries the thoughts and prayers up to the Great Creator. This ritual however, is very different from smoking cigarettes, cigars and other forms of commercialized tobacco containing harmful chemicals.

Commercial tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and various forms of smokeless tobacco are packed with so many deadly chemicals and recently they have been marketed towards America’s youth. With their seductive “Joe Camel” advertisements (now retired) and other similar youth-oriented marketing approaches, they made smoking highly attractive to today’s youth. (McKenzie James F., 2008) These advertisements seem to be working because the National surveillance systems report that tobacco use is more prevalent among American Indian/Alaska Natives than any other population, and is notably higher than the national average. (R. Margalit, 2013) One possible reason tobacco use is more prevalent among the Native American communities could be that individuals are using commercial tobacco in the context of tradition where the distinction between commercial tobacco and traditional tobacco becomes vague.

In conclusion, the use of commercial tobacco or traditional tobacco is greatly influenced by the user’s purpose. Despite the health risks associated with commercial tobacco, approximately 21 percent of the U.S. population smoke cigarettes. Traditional use of tobacco has deep ties within the Native American/Alaskan Native communities, however modern conveniences of commercial tobacco is one possible reason why tobacco use is most prevalent among American Indian/Alaskan Natives. Finally, even though there are clear differences, the distinction between commercial tobacco and traditional tobacco is becoming vague because individuals using commercial tobacco may still be doing so in the context of tradition, and as a result, commercial tobacco products may be substituted for traditional tobacco and now permeated with its meaning. (R. Margalit, 2013)

 

 

 

Works Cited

Tobacco. West's Encyclopedia of American Law. (2005). Retrieved April 17, 2013, from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437704397.html

Tobacco. Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs. (2008). Retrieved April 17, 2013, from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3049100009.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, February 22). Retrieved April 15, 2013, from Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/osh.htm

The Tobacco Atlas. (2012). Retrieved April 17, 2013, from The Tobacco Atlas : http://www.tobaccoatlas.org/industry

McKenzie James F., P. R. (2008). An Introduction to Community Health. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Barlett.

R. Margalit, S. W.-G. (2013). Lakota Elders’ Views on Traditional Versus Commercial/Addictive Tobacco Use; Oral History Depicting a Fundamental Distinction. Journal of Community Health, 13-15.

 

 

 

Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Health Care

Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Health Care

According to our text, the strength and greatness of America lies in the diversity of its people and their cultures (McKenzie F. James, 2008). However, in order for health professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations, cultural and linguistic competence must first be understood. Understanding historical factors that impact the health of minority populations and cultural differences within minority groups are only a couple of important factors to consider when planning and implementing effective community health programs and services. As public health educators it is vitally important to understand culturally acceptable behaviors while serving the needs of individuals and promoting community health.

Cultural and linguistic competence refers to a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies. 'Culture' refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. 'Competence' implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities (OMH US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, 2005).

While the goals of improved health outcomes; efficiency, and satisfaction remain the same for all patients, we must consider that for minority patients the need for culturally appropriate services must also be in place in order to meet these goals. This could create a tough task for any undertaking when considering the diverse cultures in the United States. The main challenge would be to educate all our health providers. As we all know change can be a challenge for any organization especially ones that provide health services to an exclusive clientele.

With the shift of our nation’s racial and ethnic demographics - serving the needs of our minority population is a topic of concern among many health care providers, patients, educators, and accreditation and credentialing agencies (McKenzie F. James, 2008). A news article titled, “Non-Hispanic whites will become a minority in the United States by 2050” (Garcia, 2008) summarized data from a research study by the Pew Research Center which concluded that Non-Hispanic whites would account for 47 percent of the total in 2050. The data from this news article not only supports the reason why it is ever so important for health care professionals to be culturally and linguistically competent but it also requires that policy makers create change to the current health care policies regarding cultural and linguistic competence.

            In a society as culturally diverse as the United States, community health educators need to be able to communicate with different communities and understand how culture influences health behaviors (Loustaunau, 2000). For example, American Indians may view a traditional healer as curing the individual, because the healer focuses on the whole person; western physicians may be seen as useful only for relieving symptoms, since they focus on specific problems. Another example is how American Indian individuals are reluctant to dwell on death or bad things, which may encourage them to come true; instead, there is pragmatic acceptance of "what is" while western medicine encourages the emphasis on preparation for problems by taking preventive steps (Michielutte R., 1994).

            Health care providers and educators must take steps towards becoming more culturally sensitive and linguistically competent if they are to remain effect during the times of change. By understanding health care policies and completing training courses that introduce issues of cultural and linguistic competence they are becoming more effective and better prepared to meet the challenges of one of the many issues surrounding health care in the United States.

In conclusion, culture is a vital factor in how community health professionals deliver services and how community members respond to community health programs and preventative interventions (McKenzie F. James, 2008). By creating a diverse health care workforce knowledgeable of individual cultural beliefs, values and language we are creating a workforce better prepared to meet the needs of our nation’s diverse population. Finally, we should all appreciate and recognize our own cultural characteristics that strengthen the fabric of who we are as a proud human race.

 

Works Cited

OMH US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. (2005, October 19). Retrieved March 25, 2013, from US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health Website: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=11

Garcia, A. (2008, February 12). Reuters. Retrieved March 25, 2013, from Reuters Web site: http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/12/us-usa-population-immigration-idUSN1110177520080212

Jordan J. Cohen, B. A. (2002). The Case For Diversity In The Health Care Workforce. Health Affairs, 3-14.

Loustaunau, M. (2000). Becoming Culturally Sensative: Preparing for Service as a Health Educator in a Multicultural World. In S. Smith, Community Health Prospectives (pp. 99-37). Madison: Coursewise.

McKenzie F. James, P. R. (2008). An Introduction to Community Health. Sudbury: Jones and Barlett Publishers, LLC.

Michielutte R., S. P. (1994). Cultural Issues in the Development of Cancer Control Programs for American Indian Populations. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 8-10.