While there is fairly extensive literature examining the patterns and correlates of substance use across minority youth populations with a particular focus on comparisons between Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics, there has been comparatively little attention devoted to adults. Drawing on data derived from a household sample of close to 7,000 adults in Washington State, this paper provides multivariate analyses of the correlates of substance use across five racial/ethnic groups with a specific emphasis on American Indians. The analyses reveal that while American Indians have generally higher levels of substance use and abuse than those from other racial/ethnic groups, the differences are attenuated when socio-demographic and individual level/risk protective factors are taken into account.
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