SUBSTANCE USE AND PSYCHIATRIC-PROBLEMS OF HOMELESS NATIVE-AMERICAN VETERANS

Objective: This study estimated the proportion and representation of N ative Americans among homeless veterans and compared their psychiatric and substance abuse problems with those of other ethnic groups of hom eless veterans. Methods: The study was based on data from the Departme nt of Veterans Affairs' Health Care for Homeless Veterans program, a n ational outreach program operating at 71 sites across the country. Alc ohol, drug, and psychiatric problems of Native American veterans (N=95 0) reported during intake assessment were compared with problems repor ted by white, black, and Hispanic veterans (N=36,938). Results: Native Americans constituted 1.6 percent of veterans in the program. Age-adj usted analyses suggested that relative to the general veteran populati on (of which 1.3 percent are Native Americans), Native Americans are o verrepresented in the homeless population by approximately 19 percent. Regression analyses controlling for demographic characteristics found that Native American veterans reported more current alcohol abuse, mo re previous hospitalizations for alcohol dependence, and more days of recent alcohol intoxication than members of other ethnic groups. In co ntrast, Native American veterans reported fewer drug dependence proble ms than other minority groups and fewer current psychiatric problems a nd previous psychiatric hospitalizations than the reference group of w hite homeless veterans. Conclusions: Native Americans are overrepresen ted in the homeless veteran population. They have more severe alcohol problems than other minority groups but somewhat fewer psychiatric pro blems.