Age of alcohol use initiation and lifetime alcohol and illicit drug use among urban American Indian adolescents and their peers

From a neocolonial perspective, this study (N = 2248) examined the age of alcohol use initiation and alcohol and illicit drug use among urban students (e.g., ages 14-18) in Oklahoma County, focusing on American Indian students. The relationship between the age of alcohol use initiation and lifetime alcohol and illicit drug use was examined through simple linear regressions. Racial/ethnic differences in the age of alcohol use initiation and lifetime alcohol and illicit drug use were examined using two-way ANOVAs. For secondary analyses, gender differences in the age of alcohol use initiation and lifetime alcohol and illicit drug use were examined among American Indians using independent samples t-tests. Results indicated that while a significant relationship between the age of alcohol use initiation and lifetime alcohol and illicit drug use was found, the age of alcohol use initiation is only one of several factors that contribute to lifetime alcohol and illicit drug use. American Indian students did not significantly differ from their peers in the age of alcohol use initiation and lifetime alcohol and illicit drug use. Across racial/ethnic groups, the highest lifetime alcohol and total illicit drug use was reported when alcohol use was initiated in childhood (e.g., age 11 or younger). Results from this study showed that the age of alcohol use initiation for American Indian males was significantly earlier than American Indian females and no significant differences in lifetime alcohol use and illicit drug use were found. The findings of the current research suggest that prevention programs for very young children are needed.