Alcohol Abuse in Urban Indian Adolescents and Women

Caretakers of American Indian youth who meet criteria for a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol dependence are also more likely to experience additional psychiatric illness, most commonly major depression. These findings are particularly true for American Indian women. Clinicians who assess or treat those with alcohol dependence also need to assess and treat or refer patients for depressive or other psychiatric care. This prospective, longitudinal study sought to identify risk and protective factors associated with alcohol and drug use and abuse and other mental health problems among American Indian youth and women.

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