NCJ Number
228619
Journal
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2009 Pages: 223-241
Date Published
September 2009
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Based on data from the Indian Health Service and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, this article considers why American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) have the highest mortality rates from alcohol abuse of any population group, even though rates of drinking are highest among Whites; and an overview is presented of the rates of illicit substance use (cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine) among AI/ANs.
Abstract
Although a greater percentage of Whites drink alcohol than AI/ANs, the higher alcohol-related mortality rates among AI/ANs may correlate with the higher rates of AI/AN females drinking in some tribes, with higher rates of alcohol abuse and dependence among both AI/AN women and men, and with the higher rates of both binge and heavy drinking among AI/ANs older than 26 years old. Further research is needed to confirm the trend in alcohol-related mortality among AI/AN women, and studies should also identify the protective factors against drinking for both AI/AN women and men. Illicit drug use is higher among AI/ANs across all age groups compared to non-Indians. Marijuana is the illicit drug of choice; AI/ANs have the highest rates of use of marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, hallucinogens, and nonmedical use of psychotherapeutics compared to other ethnic groups. The percentage of AI/AN women using illicit drugs tends to be lower than that of AI/AN men, except in younger age groups, where rates of illicit drug use by women from some tribes are comparable to male rates. Methamphetamine use is apparently high in some AI/AN tribes and is becoming a serious concerns for most AI/AN communities. 11 tables, 2 notes, and 45 references