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A new study by the University of Lethbridge suggests aboriginals repeatedly targeted by racism may experience post-traumatic stress symptoms, from nightmares to anxiety.

The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, also posits aboriginals may turn to prescription drugs to cope with this suffering.

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“What this study is starting to suggest is that for people who are aboriginal living in a city, experiencing high levels of racism, they’re starting to feel (those symptoms),” said Dr. Cheryl Currie, the study’s author, who stressed more research is needed to verify her findings.

“It’s the feeling that the environment is not safe, that they go to work and they experience discrimination, that they go to the grocery store and the floor walker is following them aggressively.”

Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, a physician who treats aboriginal patients in northern and southern Alberta, said she doubts systemic racism is the single-most important source of prescription drug abuse among indigenous people, though she believes it’s one cause.