The authors explain that health outcomes among AIs is poor, with substance abuse problems as a key factor in morbidity rates among this group. Some health consequences associated with substance abuse among this group include high infant mortality rates, injuries, chronic liver disease, suicide, and homicide. The authors propose that to effectively reduce substance abuse problems and its ensuing health consequences, intervention and prevention models need to take into consideration cultural factors unique to AIs. As such, the authors present a stress-coping model that emphasizes cultural strengths, such as spirituality, family and community, traditional healing practices, and group identity attitudes. The authors claim that the typical Eurocentric paradigms for recovery focus on individual pathology, rather than cultural identity and pride, making traditional intervention models less effective for AIs. The paradigm for coping with stress presented here is culturally relevant and represents a preliminary attempt to design a substance abuse model that speaks to the everyday lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Future research should focus on additional AI specific factors that contribute to substance abuse and health outcomes for this group of people. References