This study examined the lifetime prevalence of physical dating violence, including victimization, perpetration, and the overlap between the two (mutual violence), among a population sample of 551 reservation/reserve residing Indigenous (i.e., American Indian and Canadian First Nations) adolescents in the upper-Midwest of the United States and…

Computer-assisted interviewing techniques have increasingly been used in program and research settings to improve data collection quality and efficiency. Little is known, however, regarding the use of such techniques with American Indian (AI) adolescents in collecting sensitive information. This brief compares the consistency of AI adolescent…

This document provides abstracts from a sample of studies that examine risk and/or protective factors or suicide prevention programs for American Indian/Alaska Native youth. Prior to the individual literature summaries, the document includes a section called "From the Literature: Overview of Risk and Protective Factors." The exhibits in…

This study examined the usefulness of a survey on underage drinking in a rural American Indian community health clinic. One hundred ninety-seven youth (90 male, 107 female; age range 8-20 years) were recruited from clinic waiting rooms and through community outreach. The study revealed that the usefulness of the survey was twofold: Survey results…

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents have high rates of pregnancy, as well as alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and, increasingly, methamphetamine (meth) use. The progression of adolescent drug use to meth use could have devastating impacts on AI communities, particularly when youth are simultaneously at risk for teen childbearing. In…

The study investigates change in occurrences for mental and substance abuse children between early and mid-adolescence among a group of indigenous adolescents. Findings show a dramatic increase in occurrence rates for substance abuse disorder and conduct disorder, and a mental health crisis on indigenous reservations and reserves indicating a need…

The term resiliency is used to describe the "human capacity and ability to face, overcome, be strengthened by, and even be transformed by experiences of adversity." Native American culture provides a framework for fostering resiliency. The Lakota Sioux society identifies four core needs that foster resiliency and motivate individuals to reach…

Interviews with 94 adolescents and 141 adults aged 55-70 on 6 northern Minnesota reservations revealed that the average amount of time American Indian adolescents spent with parents or elders had declined from 62 hours per week in the 1930s to 12.5 hours per week in the 1980s. (SV)

Based on a self-report survey conducted on a large American Indian reservation, an estimated $8.3 million is spent annually on drugs and alcohol by reservation adolescents nationwide. This includes an estimated $2.8 million for alcohol and $4.5 million for marijuana. Contains 15 references. (SV)

In 2001, the National Youth Gang Center conducted a survey of youth gangs in Indian country. Three hundred of the 577 federally recognized tribal communities responded to the survey. Twenty-three percent of Indian communities reported active youth gangs during 2000. The extent of the gang problem varied considerably among communities, with many…

Examines the suicide epidemic on Wind River Reservation during August and September 1985, which produced 12 suicide deaths and 88 verifiable attempts or threats, mainly among teenagers and young adults. Describes immediate responses and longterm prevention efforts of the reservation Behavior Health Program, government agencies, and tribal groups.…

Among 94 Ojibway adolescents, those with a history of delinquency or court adjudication were less likely to spend time with their families and were more likely to report dysfunctional family situations and negative feelings toward family. Recommendations are presented for family support and skills development in reservation communities. (SV)

This fact sheet documents the disturbing overrepresentation of status Indian youth in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems of Ontario (Canada). However, the information represents only the tip of the iceberg. Data relate solely to children and youth whose parents resided on an Indian reserve; who were dealt with by the family court (not…

Of 1,155 American Indian children with behavioral or emotional problems or with a history of abuse or neglect, 67 percent were identified in the survey as abused or neglected. Thirteen tables detail frequency of abuse and neglect by age, sex, living situation, psychiatric symptoms, drug use, school expulsion or running away, and other factors.…

Overall drug use by Indian and non-Indian youth increased from 1975 to the early 1980s, then declined. Indian youth were consistently more involved with drugs than were non-Indians. Longitudinal data suggest a recent decline in drug use resulting from moderate users shifting to nonuse, but not heavy users. (SV)