A doctor’s experience on the Navajo Reservation

Albert: I also spent a good bit of time in New Mexico to take care of the Navajo Indians. I lived on the Navajo Reservation for several years, taking care of their problems and illnesses and so on. That was a good experience.

Interviewer: I’ve heard the conditions on the reservations can be challenging. Could you elaborate on them?

Albert: The problem is, our country is not really helping them. Kids have been forced to go to school, which means taking them away from their families, away from their lives. But they want to live on the reservation. The weather is not good, so they have to learn to tolerate cold and heat. The biggest problem with the Navajo Indians is alcohol. Unfortunately, they have a habit of drinking. It’s a real problem, and we didn’t know how to take care of it. 

Albert: The hospital I worked at wouldn't accept people if their only complaint was that they were drunk. If you're drunk, you won’t be admitted to the hospital. This means, they pass out in the streets, get taken to jail, and have a miserable time. I don’t know what the answer is. That’s their biggest problem, controlling alcohol.