Characteristics of Substance Abuse and Self-Injury among American Indian Adolescents Who Have Engaged in Binge Drinking

Am Indian Alsk Native Ment Health Res. 2018;25(2):1-19. doi: 10.5820/aian.2502.2018.1.

Abstract

Binge drinking appears to be a risk factor, facilitator, and method of suicidal and non-suicidal self-injury for some American Indian (AI) youth. We examined characteristics, patterns, and motivations for binge use among AI adolescents (N = 69; 10-19 years-old) who recently engaged in binge drinking. The majority used alcohol alone (53.7%) or a combination of alcohol and marijuana (31.3%) for their binge event. Gender differences emerged with boys more severely affected than girls. Forty-seven percent reported lifetime suicidal thoughts. This study represents one of the first in-depth examinations of substance use and related behaviors among AI adolescents who have engaged in recent binge use.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Arizona / ethnology
  • Binge Drinking / ethnology*
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American / ethnology*
  • Male
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / ethnology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / ethnology*
  • Underage Drinking / ethnology*