Comorbid alcohol/other drug abuse and psychiatric disorders in adult American Indian and Alaska Natives: a critique.
Description:
The American Indian and Alaska Native population is a heterogeneous population with significant social, psychological, and alcohol/other drug use risk factors. This article reviews the adult research to date that has examined the overlap between alcohol/other drug abuse and mental disorders. In the adult community and treatment seeking clinical populations, the co-occurrence of alcohol/other drug abuse and mental disorders is particularly high. Some studies among Native American populations have shown higher rates of affective disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, organic brain disorders, and lower rates of drug abuse/dependence.