@article{ref1,
title="Alcohol use among Native Americans compared to Whites: examining the veracity of the 'Native American elevated alcohol consumption' belief",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2015",
author="Cunningham, James K. and Solomon, Teshia A. and Muramoto, Myra L.",
volume="160",
number="",
pages="65-75",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study uses national survey data to examine the veracity of the longstanding belief that, compared to whites, Native Americans (NA) have elevated alcohol consumption. <br><br>METHODS: The primary data source was the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2009 to 2013: whites (n=171,858) and NA (n=4,201). Analyses using logistic regression with demographic covariate adjustment were conducted to assess differences in the odds of NA and whites being alcohol abstinent, light/moderate drinkers (no binge/heavy consumption), binge drinkers (5+ drinks on an occasion 1-4 days), or heavy drinkers (5+ drinks on an occasion 5+ days) in the past month. Complementary alcohol abstinence, light/moderate drinking and excessive drinking analyses were conducted using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2011 to 2013: whites (n=1,130,658) and NA (n=21,589). <br><br>RESULTS: In the NSDUH analyses, the majority of NA, 59.9% (95% CI: 56.7-63.1), abstained, whereas a minority of whites, 43.1% (CI: 42.6-43.6), abstained-adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.64 (CI: 0.56-0.73). Approximately 14.5% (CI: 12.0-17.4) of NA were light/moderate-only drinkers, versus 32.7% (CI: 32.2-33.2) of whites (AOR: 1.90; CI: 1.51-2.39). NA and white binge drinking estimates were similar-17.3% (CI: 15.0-19.8) and 16.7% (CI: 16.4-17.0), respectively (AOR: 1.00; CI: 0.83-1.20). The two populations' heavy drinking estimates were also similar-8.3% (CI: 6.7-10.2) and 7.5% (CI: 7.3-7.7), respectively (AOR: 1.06; CI: 0.85-1.32). <br><br>RESULTS from the BRFSS analyses generally corroborated those from NSDUH. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the 'Native American elevated alcohol consumption' belief, Native Americans compared to whites had lower or comparable rates across the range of alcohol measures examined.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.015",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.015"
}