October 4, 2011 |
|
Combined 2004 to 2009 NSDUH data indicate that an annual average of about 150,000 persons aged 12 to 17—0.6 percent of the total population in this age group—identified themselves as non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Natives, with no other race reported. American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents were similar to the national average in terms of age and gender distributions. Compared with the national average, however, American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents were twice as likely to be living in poverty3 (37.2 vs. 18.1 percent) and were more likely to live in non-metropolitan areas (50.1 vs. 16.5 percent).
Substance use rates were generally higher among American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents compared with national averages (Figure 1).4 The greatest differences were found for cigarette use (16.8 vs. 10.2 percent) and marijuana use (13.8 vs. 6.9 percent). The rate of nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents was almost twice that of the national rate (6.1 vs. 3.3 percent). The rate of past month alcohol use among American Indian or Alaska Native youths was similar to the national rate.
Demographic Characteristics | Alcohol Use |
Cigarette Use* |
Marijuana Use* |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription- Type Drugs* |
---|---|---|---|---|
American Indian or Alaska Native | 17.5% | 16.8% | 13.8% | 6.1% |
National Average | 16.0% | 10.2% | 6.9% | 3.3% |
* The difference between American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Compared with the national averages for 12 to 14 year olds, American Indians or Alaska Natives in this age group had higher rates of past month cigarette use (7.7 vs. 3.5 percent) and marijuana use (5.6 vs. 2.0 percent) (Table 1). Rates of past month alcohol use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents in this age group were not statistically different than those for same-aged adolescents in the Nation.
Age Group | Alcohol Use | Cigarette Use | Marijuana Use | Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Indians or Alaska Natives (%) |
National Average (%) |
American Indians or Alaska Natives (%) |
National Average (%) |
American Indians or Alaska Natives (%) |
National Average (%) |
American Indians or Alaska Natives (%) |
National Average (%) |
|
Aged 12-14 | 10.2% | 6.2% | 7.7%* | 3.5% | 5.6%* | 2.0% | 3.8% | 2.0% |
Aged 15-17 | 24.9% | 25.4% | 26.2%* | 16.5% | 22.2%* | 11.6% | 8.5%* | 4.4% |
* The difference between American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Compared with the national averages for 15 to 17 year olds, American Indians or Alaska Natives in this age group had higher rates of past month cigarette use (26.2 vs. 16.5 percent), marijuana use (22.2 vs. 11.6 percent), and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs (8.5 vs. 4.4 percent). However, rates of past month alcohol use among American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents in this age group were similar to those for same-aged adolescents in the Nation as a whole.
Compared with the national averages for adolescent females, adolescent American Indian or Alaska Native females had higher rates of past month cigarette use (17.4 vs. 10.3 percent) and marijuana use (12.1 vs. 6.3 percent); rates of past month alcohol use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs were similar (Figure 2). Similar patterns were found among adolescent males, with 16.3 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native males smoking cigarettes compared with 10.0 percent of males in the Nation and with 15.4 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native males using marijuana compared with 7.6 percent of males in the Nation as a whole.
Substance Use | American Indian or Alaska Native |
National Average |
---|---|---|
Male | ||
Alcohol Use | 17.3% | 15.8% |
Cigarette Use* | 16.3% | 10.0% |
Marijuana Use* | 15.4% | 7.6% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs | 6.1% | 2.9% |
Female | ||
Alcohol Use | 17.6% | 16.3% |
Cigarette Use* | 17.4% | 10.3% |
Marijuana Use* | 12.1% | 6.3% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs | 6.1% | 3.6% |
* The difference between American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
The rate of past month cigarette use among American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents living in poverty was higher than the national average for adolescents living in poverty (19.1 vs. 10.6 percent) as was the rate of past month use of marijuana (14.8 vs. 7.0 percent) (Figure 3). Rates of past month alcohol use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs did not differ significantly from the national averages for adolescents living in poverty.
Demographic Characteristics | Alcohol Use |
Cigarette Use* |
Marijuana Use* |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription- Type Drugs |
---|---|---|---|---|
American Indian or Alaska Native | 17.7% | 19.1% | 14.8% | 3.9% |
National Average | 13.5% | 10.6% | 7.0% | 3.6% |
* The difference between American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2005 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
These data highlight the need for ongoing efforts to develop and implement behavioral health services for American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents. Furthermore, with 562 federally recognized tribal nations and Alaska Native villages where more than 200 tribal languages are spoken, prevention and treatment efforts aimed at American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents should be appropriately sensitive to the rich diversity of cultures among this popuation.1 For example, effective prevention approaches may include those that incorporate American Indian or Alaska Native values, are provided in non-stigmatized settings, and involve the development of behavioral health systems that support traditional practices and teachings.5
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2004 to 2009 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 135,311 persons aged 12 to 17, including 1,907 American Indians or Alaska Natives. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following two-volume publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2010). Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume I. Summary of national findings (HHS Publication No. SMA 10-4586Findings, NSDUH Series H-38A). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Office of Applied Studies. (2010). Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume II. Technical appendices and selected prevalence tables (HHS Publication No. SMA 10-4586Appendices, NSDUH Series H-38B). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (formerly the Office of Applied Studies), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality are available online: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
NSDUH_005 |
This page was last updated on October 11, 2010. |