Rather, abuse seems to be a product of many societal factors. One major contributor to Chumash alcohol use appears to be the spiritual relationship of the Chumash to altered states of consciousness from botanical substances, such as datura. In addition, the absence of fermented beverages in pre-colonial Chumash society meant an absence of societal norms for dealing with alcohol use, contrary to the methods of prohibition or moderation practiced in most European societies. Thus, when the moderate to heavy drinking found in European frontier communities was introduced to the Chumash and other Native peoples, they were at a much higher risk for abuse. This high rate of abuse has led to a number of modern methods of alleviation, including non-native ones such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Native practices involving spiritual and communal efforts to break addiction. Research on levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), enzymes responsible for alcohol breakdown and clearance, also indicates no biological predisposition to alcoholism for Southwest California Native Americans (such as the Chumash). There is evidence of genetic protective elements against alcohol dependence in many Native Americans, which has further discredited theories of its biological inevitability.  1769 marked the beginning of Spanish military and religious missions to assimilate Native Chumash in the Alta region of California, roughly around modern-day Santa Barbara. This date also coincides with apparent changes to the Chumash environment and way of life that invoked declines in Chumash health. Prior to colonization, the Chumash enjoyed ecological abundance and diversity even during cyclical droughts and El Niño events, indicating a millennia-long period of acclimatization to their environment. However, this stability was significantly altered by European contact. Traditionally, historical narratives have attributed declines in Chumash health to European oppression. However, this narrative has been replaced by a more nuanced perspective consisting of exacerbated environmental fluctuations from overpopulation and over-utilization of resources following Spanish colonization. This effect was in conjunction with the devastating effects of originally European diseases on Chumash people, which likely began wounding the Chumash in the late 16th century. The effect of Spanish overpopulation and resource destruction is documented by a Spanish missionary, Father Gregorio Fernandez, in 1803. This letter documents the increasing number of Chumash migrants to Spanish missions—not because of increasing Christian beliefs—but because of the devastation of Chumash agricultural plants. This effect was greatest on the Chumash staple of the acorn, caused primarily by overexploitation of Spanish cattle-grazing.