Alcohol Use and Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy Among American Indians/Alaska Natives

• NCJ Number: 241980
• Journal: Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: July - September 2012 Pages: 262-275
• Author(s): Toni Terling Watt
• Date Published: September 2012
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research reveals that American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women exhibit high rates of alcohol use and smoking.

Abstract

Previous research states that American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women exhibit high rates of alcohol use and smoking. The current study uses the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2005-2009) to update and expand on this literature. Results reveal lower rates of alcohol use and, with compositional controls, lower rates of smoking for American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women compared with pregnant women of other racial/ethnic groups. These findings support social-structural explanations of substance use among American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women and refute commonly offered cultural arguments that alcohol use and smoking reflect something that is "uniquely Indian." Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.