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Alcohol Use and Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy Among American Indians/Alaska Natives

NCJ Number
241980
Journal
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: July - September 2012 Pages: 262-275
Author(s)
Toni Terling Watt
Date Published
September 2012
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This research reveals that American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women exhibit high rates of alcohol use and smoking.
Abstract
Previous research states that American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women exhibit high rates of alcohol use and smoking. The current study uses the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2005-2009) to update and expand on this literature. Results reveal lower rates of alcohol use and, with compositional controls, lower rates of smoking for American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women compared with pregnant women of other racial/ethnic groups. These findings support social-structural explanations of substance use among American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women and refute commonly offered cultural arguments that alcohol use and smoking reflect something that is "uniquely Indian." Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.