Demographic, clinical, and treatment episode characteristics of 3,087
American Indian veterans discharged from Department of Veterans Affair
s hospitals in fiscal year 1991 were examined. Substance use disorders
were diagnosed in 463 percent of discharged American Indians, compare
d with 23.4 percent of discharged veterans overall. More than 97 perce
nt of American Indian substance use diagnoses were for alcohol depende
nce, while rates of other drug use disorders were low. Substance depen
dent American Indians were younger, and more likely to be male and unm
arried, than nondependent American Indians. Psychiatric disorders, par
ticularly personality disorders, depression, and posttraumatic stress
disorder, were more prevalent among American Indians diagnosed with su
bstance use disorders, than among nondependent American Indians. Ameri
can Indians with substance use disorders were similar demographically
to the general population of substance dependent veterans. Rates of di
agnosed psychiatric disorders and drug dependencies other than alcohol
were lower among American Indians receiving substance (alcohol or dru
g) use diagnoses than among the general population of substance depend
ent veterans. Rates of rehospitalization following discharge were high
er in substance-abusing American Indian veterans than among their coun
terparts. Potential explanations for these findings are discussed.