"It's bad around here now": tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among American Indians living on a rural reservation

J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2012;11(2):130-48. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2012.675244.

Abstract

Using data about members of a midwestern American Indian reservation in eight focus groups that were conducted like "talking circles," the authors describe the participants' (N = 49) views of the current use and abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Results indicate that the use of tobacco is pervasive; that the use of alcohol and other drugs, especially marijuana and oxycodone, are problems on this reservation because they are detrimental to health and well-being; and appropriate, available, and accessible treatment is scarce, nonexistent, or underfunded. Culturally sensitive substance abuse treatment and increased funding for treatment are major health issues for this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*
  • Alcohol Drinking / ethnology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Marijuana Smoking / epidemiology
  • Marijuana Smoking / ethnology
  • Middle Aged
  • Midwestern United States / epidemiology
  • Oxycodone / administration & dosage
  • Oxycodone / adverse effects
  • Rural Population
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / ethnology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / ethnology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Oxycodone