Substance Abuse Treatment Among American Indian Children

Alcoholism is the number one killer among American Indians. Accordingly, the death rate for Indians ages 15 to 44 is over 300 percent that of the total U.S. population. This paper addresses this phenomenon from both the socio/legal and psycho/cultural perspectives. Alternative Indian-specific modalities are discussed and a successful proactive, preventative program-begun on the Qualla Reservation in 1972-is illustrated. Lastly, we warn against wellmeaning and other ethnocentric interventions presented under the guise of such programs as the "Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1986 (PL 99-570)."