NATIVE AMERICANS LEAD ETHNIC GROUPS IN DRUG ABUSE CASES, STUDY SHOWS

Copyright 1998 Nando.net Copyright 1998 Reuters News Service

WASHINGTON - Native Americans have the highest rate of drug abuse of any
ethnic group in the United States, the government reported on Tuesday.

The first-ever breakdown of drug and alcohol use by specific ethnic group
has uncovered some interesting findings, the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said.

It found that overall, 11.9 percent of all Americans over the age of 12
abused drugs or alcohol in 1991 through 1993.

Native Americans were much more likely than average to abuse drugs or
alcohol or to smoke cigarettes, with 19.8 percent of those surveyed saying
they had done so in the past year.

Puerto Ricans reported a 13.3 percent prevalence and African-Americans 13.1
percent. Asian-Pacific islanders had a low rate of abuse at 6.5 percent, as
did Caribbean-Americans at 7.6 percent and Cuban-Americans at 8.2 percent.

A specific breakdown of groups, based on national surveys done in 1991, 1992
and 1993, showed that groups like "Hispanics" could not be lumped together.

"The seven Hispanic-American subgroups vary significantly in their
prevalences of substance use, alcohol dependence and the need for illicit
drug abuse treatment," SAMHSA said in a statement.

"Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans exhibit higher prevalences of illicit
drug use (including marijuana, cocaine and other illicit drugs), heavy
alcohol use, alcohol dependence and the need for illicit drug abuse
treatment," it added.

"Caribbean-Americans, Central Americans and Cuban-Americans, however, have
lower prevalences."

But ethnic group did not necessarily predict who would abuse drugs, the
agency said.

"Regardless of racial/ethnic subgroups, relatively high prevalences of
illicit drug use are found in individuals who live in the West, reside in
metropolitan areas with populations greater than one million, lack health
insurance coverage, are unemployed, or have nine to 11 years of schooling,"
it said.

Native Americans had the highest overall reported use of illicit drugs, and
also of marijuana, need for drug abuse treatment and cigarette smoking.

Overall, 30 percent of Americans smoke, the study found.

Among Native Americans that number jumps to 52.7 percent, while 32.7 percent
of Puerto Ricans, 31.5 percent of Caucasians, 31.3 percent of South
Americans and 29.9 percent of black Americans smoke.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett