Characteristics of American-Indian clients seeking inpatient treatment for substance abuse

Objective: The current study was conducted as a preliminary examination of substance use and some of its correlates in nonreservation-residing American Indians. Method: A group of 522 American-Indian (AI) subjects (473 men) were compared with two sets of geographic controls: (1) an equal number of African Americans (AA) and (2) an equal number of European Americans (EA). All received treatment in the same facilities over the same time period. Results: Contrary to expectations, the ethnic/racial groups were remarkably similar on a number of alcohol use variables, including the amount consumed in the 6 months prior to treatment and the number of previous treatments. Among those self-reporting as problem drinkers, there were group differences in the age of first drink (AA mean = 13.54, AI mean = 12.24 and EA mean = 11.71) and first drunk (AA mean = 15.80, AI mean = 14.23 and EA mean = 14.08) and the number of alcohol-related problems (AA mean = 7.52, AI mean = 8.49 and EA mean = 8.46). On these measures, AI and EA subjects did not differ whereas AA subjects reported a later age of onset and fewer negative consequences. EA and AI male subjects reported marijuana as their most frequently used "other" drug, whereas AA male subjects listed stimulants as their primary drugs. Regardless of ethnic/racial group, women did not differ on their drug(s) of choice, reporting stimulants as the most frequently abused drug (after accounting for alcohol use). Conclusions: This preliminary study is remarkable for the observed similarities among groups. Future studies using more rigorous sampling are needed to provide clarification of this preliminary study.