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Navajo Nation Alcohol Abuse Case Study

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Navajo Nation Alcohol Abuse Case Study
The problem of alcohol abuse on the Navajo Nation is widespread and devastating, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Substance abuse is associated with substantial health consequences, including liver disease, alcohol-related accidents, suicide, and domestic violence. The expansive nature of the reservation and systems of structural violence perpetuate health and socioeconomic inequities on the Navajo Nation, making interventions difficult. Furthermore, many patients on the Navajo Nation lack the financial and logistical means to travel hours off of the reservation to receive care. This renders the centralized system of alcohol abuse treatment through hospitals and clinics in border towns inefficient and unsuccessful.

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