Tobacco and other substance use among Alaska Native youth in western Alaska.
OBJECTIVE
To examine tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use rates among Alaska Native youth from western Alaska.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 665 youth ages 6-18.


RESULTS
Of children 6-10 years of age, 12% reported current use, and the prevalence rates increased with age. Females were significantly more likely than males to report tobacco use. The rates of alcohol and other drug use were very low. After adjusting for age and gender, significant correlates of tobacco use were maternal tobacco use during and after pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Expanded efforts are needed to address tobacco use among Alaska Native youth.
Angstman
Sarah
S
Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
Patten
Christi A
CA
Renner
Caroline C
CC
Simon
Anna
A
Thomas
Janet L
JL
Hurt
Richard D
RD
Schroeder
Darrell R
DR
Decker
Paul A
PA
Offord
Kenneth P
KP
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology