Substance use trends among reservation-area American Indian youth
Substance Use Among American Indian Youth: Epidemiology and Etiology
Tracking alcohol and drug use among reservation-area American Indian middle and high school students to understand changes before, during, and after COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11375464 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project surveys reservation-area American Indian students in grades 6–12 each year, collecting information about alcohol, marijuana, and other substance use. More than 3,000 students are surveyed annually to produce nationally-representative estimates for youth living on reservations. Researchers compare these results with national data sources, combine past and new data to separate age, period, and cohort effects, and examine how the pandemic and other historical factors changed substance use. The team uses intersectional, multilevel analysis to identify which communities and groups experience the greatest disparities and why.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are American Indian adolescents attending schools on reservations (roughly grades 6–12).
Not a fit: People who are not American Indian, do not live or attend school on reservations, or are outside the adolescent age range would not be the focus and may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help tribes and health programs target prevention, treatment, and policy to reduce substance use and related harms.
How similar studies have performed: Nationwide surveys like Monitoring the Future have successfully tracked youth substance use trends, but this project is the only nationally-representative source focused specifically on reservation-area American Indian adolescents.
Where this research is happening
Fort Collins, United States
- Colorado State University — Fort Collins, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crabtree, Meghan a — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Crabtree, Meghan a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.