Why do Native Americans have high rates of alcohol abuse?

Economic disadvantage: Native Americans have high rates of unemployment and low rates of high school and college completion, and they are less likely to have medical insurance and access to healthcare. 1, 2 Poor education, poverty, and limited resources may contribute to greater use of alcohol. 2. read more

Native Americans have some of the highest rates of alcohol and drug abuse among minority groups. 3 Certain factors may contribute to the development of alcohol use disorders among Native Americans as well as prevent them from seeking help. read more

“Native Americans are one such group. Their rate of alcoholism is much higher than the rest of the population, and one in 10 Native American deaths is alcohol-related [three times the average for the broader population].” Winkel explained Native Americans were initially introduced to alcohol by the European settlers and traders. read more

Native Americans have one of the highest rates of fetal alcohol syndrome recorded. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1981 to 1991, the prevalence of FAS in the overall US population per 10,000 births was 2.1. read more