An Intersectional Approach to Problem Drinking in the Nepali/Bhutanese Community in Northeast Ohio

Abstract

Akron, Ohio, is home to many who came to the United States as refugees from Bhutan. Originally of Nepali background, they fled Bhutan during a period of ethnic cleansing beginning in the 1990s. As the Nepali/Bhutanese population grew, local providers (e.g., resettlement agencies, social services, emergency room personnel) noted significant levels of problem drinking compared to other local refugee populations. We use a Critical Medical Anthropology framework informed by intersectionality to illuminate the ways that both the intersecting identities and the interlocking systems of oppression experienced by refugees shape Nepali/Bhutanese experiences in the United States, particularly relating to drinking as a coping mechanism. This study focused on gaining local understandings surrounding alcohol use in the Nepali/Bhutanese community in order to inform culturally sustaining solutions for those who suffer from alcohol misuse. We found demographic variables of the Nepali/Bhutanese, particularly those related to gender and generation, intersect with additional identities acquired in the sociocultural system of the United States, such as that of “refugee,” resulting in unique reasons for problem drinking. Results indicate that these unique reasons for problem drinking necessitate a range of interventions. We provide recommendations for providers, community members, and future research.