Co-Morbid Alcohol/Other Drug Abuse/Dependence and Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescent American Indian and Alaska Natives

Abstract

Adolescent American Indians and Alaska Natives are a diverse and heterogeneous population with significant social, psychological, and substance use risk factors. This paper reviews the adolescent research to date that has examined the overlap between alcohol/other drug abuse/dependence, mental disorders, and psychiatric symptoms. In the few studies that have been completed there has been significant overlap. No national studies have been done, but there are scattered local and tribal reports. Of the studies that were surveyed, many of them report a significant co-morbidity of alcohol/other drug abuse/dependence with affective and disruptive disorders (ADHD, conduct, oppositional defiant).

Key Words:

• Adolescent
• American Indian
• Alaska native
• substance abuse
• mental disorders