Work

Substance Use Patterns among High‐Risk American Indians/Alaska Natives in Los Angeles County

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Substance abuse among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) is a significant and long-standing health problem in the U.S. Two-thirds of American AIs/ANs reside in the urban setting. However, studies analyzing substance use characteristics among urban AI/ANs are very limited. METHODS: Substance use patterns among a sample of AI/ANs (n = 77) and other ethnic/racial groups in Los Angeles County at high risk of substance abuse were analyzed utilizing three datasets from programs targeting individuals at high risk for substance abuse and risky sexual behaviors. RESULTS: Compared to all other ethnic/racial groups, AI/ANs demonstrated significantly younger age of onset of alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, and "other" drug use, higher correlations of age of first use of amphetamine with a measure of the drug's reinforcement, and higher mean number of illicit drug injections in the 30 days before being interviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study highlight a critical need for furthering our understanding of substance abuse problems among urban AI/ANs.

Source: American Journal on Addictions

DOI: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00258.x

Authors: Daniel L. Dickerson, Dennis G. Fisher, Grace L. Reynolds, Safia Baig, Lucy E. Napper, M. Douglas Anglin

Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles, United American Indian Involvement, California State University, Long Beach

Language: English

Topic: Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities