Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues Within Native American Grandparenting Families

Abstract

Substance abuse and mental health problems among Native Americans are associated with a variety of general health, social, and economic problems. This current study examined Native American grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and found that a child, parent, or grandparent had an alcohol or drug problem in 36% of families. Substance abuse on the part of a parent was correlated with the reasons grandparents were raising their grandchildren. Native American grandparents raising grandchildren cope with a variety of challenges and receive little state-funded assistance or help from others.

KEYWORDS:

• grandparents
• mental health
• native americans
• substance abuse

Notes

^a Percentages total to more than 100% because of multiple sources.

^a χ²between abuse and concern is 5.83, df = 1, p = .016.

^a χ²between abuse and concern is 4.28, df = 1, p = .038.