Philip A. May, PhD and J. Phillip Gossage, PhD. Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions, The University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale Blvd SE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87106, 505-925-2307, pmay@unm.edu

In basic epidemiologic research in six northern American Indian communities, 2011 randomly-selected adults (ages 16 to 92) have been interviewed about use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Tobacco use results are compared to U.S. general population trends from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). Last month use of cigarettes by Plains respondents 18-25 years was 64.9% (40% in the general population). Among those 26 years or older, 53.3% use tobacco compared to 24.9% for the general population. Smokeless tobacco use among Plains Indians 18-25 years was 18.6% compared to 5.7% for the U.S; among respondents 26 years old or older, smokeless tobacco use was 8.4% (5% greater than U.S.). Slightly over half of all males and females smoke cigarettes each week. More males than females (15.3% vs. 2.3%) use smokeless tobacco once a week or more often (X2 = 150.7, p <0.000). Initiation of regular tobacco use varies significantly by level of involvement in traditional Indian ceremonies (F = 4.14, p = 0.020) as does frequency of smoking cigarettes in past 12 months (X2 = 18.75, p = 0.016). Those most active in traditional Indian ceremonies are more likely to smoke and use smokeless tobacco, although overall differences are moderate. Data collection and analysis are ongoing for use in prevention. Funded by: RO1 AA09440 and UO1 AA11685 and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD).

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