Behavioral Health Facts
- According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, 2004), American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have higher substance abuse levels than other ethnic groups in the U.S.
- AI/AN are more likely to report past year drug use compared to other racial groups in the US (NSDUH, 2004).
- 2.6% of mothers of AI/AN newborns drank alcohol
during pregnancy compared to 0.9% U.S all races. Aberdeen area was at 4.3%. The rate of
alcohol use for AI/AN women increased with age except for mothers under the age
of 18 years (Regional Differences in Indian Health 2002-2003, IHS).
- 19.8% of women who gave birth to AI/AN newborns
in Indian Health Service (IHS) regions smoked tobacco during pregnancy compared to 12.2% U.S all races.
Aberdeen area
had a rate above 30% (Regional Differences in Indian Health 2002-2003, IHS).
- In more than half of violent crimes against
American Indians, alcohol and drug use are reported as a factor with 62% of American Indian victims of violence reporting that the offender
was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both (Bureau of Justice Statistics: American Indians and Crime, 2004).
- In 1992-2002,
compared to 623 per 100,000 of all
persons, approximately 1,240 American Indians per 100,000 of the
population were arrested for alcohol violations (e.g., driving under the
influence, liquor law violations, and drunkenness; Bureau of Justice Statistics:
American Indians and Crime, 2004).
- American Indian youth age 17 or under arrested
for an alcohol violation were nearly double that of youth of all races
(681 versus 362; Bureau of
Justice Statistics: American Indians and Crime, 2004).
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