Substance and Behavioral Addictions Among American Indian and Alaska Native Populations

Course overview

This paper examines substance and behavioral addictions among American Indian and Alaska Natives (AIAN) in order to identify the structural and psychosocial risk as well as cultural protective factors that are associated with substance use and behavioral addictions. The authors conclude that there is a dearth of research on behavioral addictions among AIANs. Unique risk factors in AIAN communities such as historical trauma and socioeconomic challenges have interfered with traditional cultural resilience factors and have increased the risk of behavioral addictions. Future research on resilience factors and effective prevention and treatment interventions could help AIANs avoid behavioral addictions.