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Differences in Drinking Behavior and Access to Alcohol Between Native American and White Adolescents

NCJ Number
225984
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: 2008 Pages: 273-284
Author(s)
Bettina Friese Ph.D.; Joel Grube Ph.D.
Date Published
2008
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study investigated differences in drinking behaviors and sources of alcohol among Native American and White adolescents.
Abstract
Findings are consistent with other studies in finding that Native American youth were more likely to have consumed alcohol in their lifetime and more likely to have gotten intoxicated than White youth. Native American and White youth did not differ in their age of first alcohol use and 30-day use. Native American youth reported easier access to alcohol in general, as well as from parties, siblings, older persons, bars, and stores. White youth did not report easier access than Native American youth for any sources. After controlling for gender and age, however, Native American youth perceived it to be easier to get alcohol from stores and bars than White youth, but more difficult to get it from parents and from home. Native American drinkers were almost twice as likely to have gotten alcohol from an adult and more than twice as likely as White drinkers to have obtained alcohol from someone under 21. White drinkers were four times as likely to have obtained alcohol from their parents. Youth access to alcohol from a friend’s parents, or own or friend’s house did not differ between Whites and Native Americans. Data were collected from 361 Native American and 1,735 White adolescents, ages 11 to 19 in Wisconsin. Tables and references