title: Alcohol use among Native Americans compared to whites: Examining the veracity of the 'Native American elevated alcohol consumption' belief.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study uses national survey data to examine the veracity of the longstanding belief that, compared to whites, Native Americans (NA) have elevated alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary data source was the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2009 to 2013: whites (n=171,858) and NA (n=4,201). Analyses using logistic regression with demographic covariate adjustment were conducted to assess differences in the odds of NA and whites being alcohol abstinent, light/moderate drinkers (no binge/heavy consumption), binge drinkers (5+ drinks on an occasion 1-4 days), or heavy drinkers (5+ drinks on an occasion 5+ days) in the past month. Complementary alcohol abstinence, light/moderate drinking and excessive drinking analyses were conducted using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2011 to 2013: whites (n=1,130,658) and NA (n=21,589).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the NSDUH analyses, the majority of NA, 59.9% (95% CI: 56.7-63.1), abstained, whereas a minority of whites, 43.1% (CI: 42.6-43.6), abstained-adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.64 (CI: 0.56-0.73). Approximately 14.5% (CI: 12.0-17.4) of NA were light/moderate-only drinkers, versus 32.7% (CI: 32.2-33.2) of whites (AOR: 1.90; CI: 1.51-2.39). NA and white binge drinking estimates were similar-17.3% (CI: 15.0-19.8) and 16.7% (CI: 16.4-17.0), respectively (AOR: 1.00; CI: 0.83-1.20). The two populations' heavy drinking estimates were also similar-8.3% (CI: 6.7-10.2) and 7.5% (CI: 7.3-7.7), respectively (AOR: 1.06; CI: 0.85-1.32). Results from the BRFSS analyses generally corroborated those from NSDUH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to the 'Native American elevated alcohol consumption' belief, Native Americans compared to whites had lower or comparable rates across the range of alcohol measures examined.
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Arizona, 1450 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States; Native American Research and Training Center, The University of Arizona, 1642 East Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States. Electronic address: jkcunnin@email.arizona.edu.
authors: James K
authors: JK
authors: Cunningham
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Arizona, 1450 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States; Native American Research and Training Center, The University of Arizona, 1642 East Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States. Electronic address: solomont@email.arizona.edu.
authors: Teshia A
authors: TA
authors: Solomon
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Arizona, 1450 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States. Electronic address: myram@email.arizona.edu.
authors: Myra L
authors: ML
authors: Muramoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; American Indian and Alaska Native; Binge drinking; Heavy drinking; Native American; Stereotype