The Northwest Indian Treatment Center runs a 45-day inpatient treatment program in Elma, Washington. The Squaxin Island Tribe created the program to address an unmet need for culturally based drug and alcohol treatment centers for Indian people who grew up on reservations. The program specializes in treating people with chronic relapse patterns…

Summarizes the literature regarding alcohol and drug abuse among American Indians and Alaska Natives noting four major knowledge gaps in the literature. Discusses abuse prevention efforts among American Indians and notes research questions to be considered regarding primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts. Makes eight recommendations…

United Southern and Eastern Tribes (USET) mental health programs in six eastern states help Indian people with mental health, alcoholism, suicide prevention, and child, drug, or substance abuse problems. Available from White Cloud Center, Gaines Hall, Univ. of Oregon Health Services Center, 840 S. W. Gaines Road, Portland, Oregon 97201; $12…

Detailing the rise and fall of Louis Sockalexis (1871-1913) who was the first American Indian to play in the major baseball leagues, this brief biography emphasizes Sockalexis's: (1) exceptional athletic ability; (2) culture conflict when, as a minority member, he entered main stream American life; (3) problems with alcohol and the ultimate demise…

Presents an overview of substance abuse, focusing on Native American students. Emphasizes school counselor intervention strategies and the counselor client relationship. Counselors must be aware of their own values and cultural attitudes in dealing with Indian students. (JAC)

The author describes a program for treatment of alcoholism among Baltimore's growing population of American Indians. Although the program is still in the early stages of operation, its chance of success seems to be promising because it takes into account conflicting influences of the Indian and American cultures. (Author)

Attitudes toward alcohol abuse are changing in Indian country. A number of separate but complementary attitudes are creating a circle of support in the fight against alcohol abuse. These new attitudes hold that: (1) Native Americans are not condemned by their race to a destiny of alcohol-related problems, but, rather, have a choice; (2) abstinence…

This document presents a report from the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor concerning H.R. 1156, The Indian Youth Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Act. An amended version of the bill, which was proposed to coordinate and expand services for the prevention, identification, treatment, and follow-up care of alcohol and…

Reviews problems relating to tobacco, alcohol, and drug use among American-Indians. Describes bicultural competence skills approach which proved successful for preventing substance abuse among American-Indian adolescents at posttest and follow-up on measures of substance-use knowledge, attitudes, and interactive skills, and on self-reported rates…

Describes a training program for counselors of alcoholics, presenting factors contributing to program effectiveness, a description of program classes, and outcome data regarding completion and employment. Involvement in and control by local tribal government are the key to a successful program. (Author/NRB)

A drug and alcohol use prevalence study was conducted among Montana Indians by Montana Indians. The results raise questions about culture transmission as a drug prevention strategy. Also, there is evidence of a high proportion of youth with deceased fathers. Implications for further prevention needs are presented. (Author)

Reviews the sparse literature concerning the mental health of American Indian and Alaska Native women. Suggests research into various sources of stress experienced by Native women and related to drug and alcohol abuse. Discusses coping mechanisms and the particular stress factors affecting professional Native women. (SV)

The effects of alcohol and other drug abuse are recognized as a serious problem in U.S. communities. Policy efforts and increased law enforcement have only a minimal impact if prevention strategies are not consistent with the community's level of readiness, are not culturally relevant, and are not community-specific. A model has been developed for…

Those who come from non-American Indian cultures have dominated traditional models for healing and prevention. The assumption that current training strategies, program manuals, and levels of competence with regard to cross-cultural skills and knowledge are sufficient is arguable. If training programs for mental health, physical health, and…

School-based drug abuse prevention programs have been a standard approach in American Indian communities for three decades, but the evidence for their effectiveness is meager. However, it is unreasonable to expect that schools alone could have a major impact on a behavior that has multiple and interactive social causes. It would be folly to…