Comparative Admission and Follow-Up Study of American Indians and Whites in a Youth Chemical Dependency Unit on the North Central Plains

It is found that nonrural youth were more likely to be in a state treatment program than rural youth, and positive outcome data were much stronger for White than Indian patients, raising important questions about the effectiveness of such programs for the Indian patients.

Abstract

In this study of drug-abusing young adults in North Dakota, we found that nonrural youth were more likely to be in a state treatment program than rural youth. We found few etiological differences between White and Indian Youth, although Indian youth were overrepresented tenfold. They could be described as young people in trouble at school and with the law, who were sexually involved but not religiously so. In a 6-month follow-up study, positive outcome data were much stronger for White than Indian patients, raising important questions about the effectiveness of such programs for the Indian patients.