Substance Use Rates among American Indian Adolescents: Regional Comparisons with Monitoring the Future High School Seniors

Abstract

While substance use rates among American Indian (AI) adolescents have been compared to those of non-AI youth, statistical tests have not been used to determine whether these rates differ significantly. The literature also has not compared rates within geographic regions. In this research, we used two data sets to address these issues among high school seniors: the Voices of Indian Teens and Monitoring the Future projects. Lifetime substance use among AI youth was significantly higher than it was for non-AI youth for only two substances (marijuana and cocaine); non-AI youth had significantly higher use rates of inhalants and cigarettes. AI youth were significantly higher than non-AI youth for the 30-day use of five of seven substances (marijuana, cocaine, stimulants, alcohol, and barbiturates). However, analysis of the geographic regions revealed different patterns of substance use, with AI youth significantly higher on more lifetime substance use items in one region and non-AI youth significantly higher in another. In addition, AI youth rates were significantly higher on only three of seven substances when region was controlled.