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Inhalant use among American Indian youth

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Abstract

According to the U. S. Indian Health Service, substance abuse is the most urgent health problem facing American Indians. Inhalants are among the first drugs used by Indian youth, with first use occurring at approximately the same time as the onset for cigarette smoking. Although prevalence rates vary among Indian subpopulations, Indian youth generally have much higher rates of inhalant use than non-Indian youth. Furthermore, while other drugs are showing a downward trend among Indian youth, inhalant use is increasing slightly. This paper examines this phenomena by reviewing related epidemiological, social, and clinical issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bureau of Child Research/Dept. of Human Development, Haworth Hall, University of Kansas, 66045-2930, Lawrence, KS

    Thomas J. Young Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Research Fellow Developmental and Child Psychology)

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  1. Thomas J. Young Ph.D.
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Research for this paper was supported by a Grant from The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, #HD07173-07.

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Young, T.J. Inhalant use among American Indian youth. Child Psych Hum Dev 18, 36–46 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706528

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706528

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