ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE-ABUSE AMONG SELECTED SOUTHERN CHEYENNE INDIANS

This family and small community-based study reports the occurrence of alcoholism and co-occurring substance abuse in Southern Cheyenne India ns living in western Oklahoma. Sociocultural factors complicate operat ionalization of clinical data into standard (DSM-III-R) psychiatric di sorder terminology; understanding sociocultural factors is essential f or assessing the high rate of addictive disorders in this group. To ob tain reliable and valid clinical diagnoses, data from several sources were utilized within a blind rating system: 1) SADS-L, a clinician-adm inistered research diagnostic instrument; 2) MAST; 3) relatives; 4) me dical records; 5) other official documents. The sample consisted of 69 males (45 alcoholics) and 97 females (36 alcoholics). Among clinicall y significant substance abusers (moderate impairment of function), 22 of 24 were alcoholics. In non-alcoholics, mean MAST scores were 8.8 (m ales) and 5.1 (females); in alcoholics, 32.0 (males) and 38.7 (females ). Mean age of onset on heavy use of alcohol was 20.1 yrs. (males) and 22.8 (females) (p = 0.047); among all alcoholics, 86% (males) and 64% (females) had early onset (< 25 yrs. old). When data from 98 unrelate d subjects were analyzed separately, similar findings were observed ex cept that mean age of onset of heavy use of alcohol was more discrepan t between males and females, viz. 20.1 versus 22.8 yrs. (p = 0.02). Am ong those with substance abuse disorders, early age of onset was prese nt in all but one female. In these Cheyenne, alcoholism is usually cli nically severe and early in onset; it often co-occurs with substance a buse, also early in onset.