Drug Use An Increasing Threat To Young American Indians

A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that young American Indians living on reservations may be increasingly vulnerable to illicit drug use, underscoring the need for culturally specific prevention programs. At an in-depth course held at CADCA´s Mid-Year Training Institute July 30-Aug. 2, 2007, several experts in the field of substance abuse will discuss ways that community coalitions can play a major role in preventing drug abuse in the Native American population, and other communities.

The study found that among first-time drug users on and near two different American Indian reservations, those born after 1960 had the highest risk for trying marijuana at age 16. Additionally, within the same group, the risk of drug use was higher among reservation-dwelling youth than the general population. Overall, American Indian adolescents were at higher risk for trying marijuana than their elders or their peers across the country.

“The overall age for drug use and experimentation has moved to a younger age group all across the nation,” said Nancy Whitesell, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry in the American Indian and Alaska Native Programs at the UCDHSC School of Medicine. “The numbers show the Native American samples are catching up and even surpassing the national population samples for the youngest populations that are at risk for drug use.”

Ethnic and minority populations often face unique challenges and circumstances, and they may be reluctant to join community efforts not perceived as their own. At the “Coalition Building with Special Populations” course, Mid-Year participants will learn concrete strategies for conducting outreach to diverse populations and will learn how to incorporate different communities into their coalition efforts. The course will be particularly useful for coalitions looking to apply for Drug-Free Communities grants, coalitions facing rapidly changing demographics, or any coalition that wants to increase their cultural competency to increase their long-term sustainability.

The course will be led by Don Coyhis, President, White Bison, Inc.; Dr. Eduardo Hernández-Alarcón, Deputy Director of Dissemination and Coalition Relations, CADCA’s National Coalition Institute; and Evelyn Yang, Senior Manager of Evaluation and Research, CADCA’s National Coalition Institute.

The theme of the 2007 CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute is “Sustain the Change,” addressing everything from fundraising to coalition evaluation and problem analysis. The Mid-Year will be held at the beautiful JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, located in the Tucson Mountains with something to offer for the whole family—whether it’s hiking, biking, swimming, tennis or golf.

The Mid-Year also offers opportunities for organizations and businesses to showcase their services or products. For information please contact Kelle Masten at 703-706-0560, ext. 224.