ALCOHOL-ABUSE IN URBAN INDIAN ADOLESCENTS AND WOMEN - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY FOR ASSESSMENT AND RISK-EVALUATION

Empirical studies of American Indian health and mental health have foc used primarily on reservation samples or small cross-sectional school- based or treatment samples. Few studies have addressed these issues am ong urban American Indian populations. This paper introduces an ongoin g ten-year prospective longitudinal study of alcohol abuse, drug abuse , and mental health status in a community sample of urban American Ind ian adolescents and women. The study uses structured interviews and di agnostic assessments to identify risk factors for, and measure prevale nce of, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and psychopathology in 523 Indian y outh and 276 Indian women. Study aims, rationale, research design, met hods, sample characteristics, assessment instruments, and substance us e prevalence are described, and methodological issues related to condu cting longitudinal research are discussed.