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 fami

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

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.

Kluwin, T., (1990) Communication in Fostering Cohesion in Families with the Deaf. Journal of American Annals of the Deaf. Vol. 139, No. 3

Duff, J., (1981) The Truth About Drugs. Los Angeles, California: Bridge Publications, Inc.

ly 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

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ASL Rendon, Abuse Substance, Alcoholism Abstract, Alcoholic Anonymous, Deaf Vol, Language ASL-, Los Angeles, Abuse Vol, deaf community, deaf culture, substance abuse, treatment programs, Egert Rendon, rendon 1992, alcohol substance, Substance Abuse, alcohol substance abuse, deaf journal american, families deaf, culture unique, american annals, annals deaf, annals deaf vol, journal american annals, american annals deaf,
Approximate Word count = 882
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)