Citation

Evans-Campbell T, Walters KL, Pearson CR, Campbell CD. Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abuse 2012; 38(5): 421-427.

Affiliation

Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, University of Washington , Seattle WA , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/00952990.2012.701358

PMID

22931076

Abstract

Background: Systematic efforts of assimilation removed many Native children from their tribal communities and placed in non-Indian-run residential schools. Objectives: To explore substance use and mental health concerns among a community-based sample of 447 urban two-spirit American Indian/Alaska Native adults who had attended boarding school as children and/or who were raised by someone who attended boarding school. Method: Eighty-two respondents who had attended Indian boarding school as children were compared to respondents with no history of boarding school with respect to mental health and substance use. Results: Former boarding school attendees reported higher rates of current illicit drug use and living with alcohol use disorder, and were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide and experienced suicidal thoughts in their lifetime compared to non-attendees. About 39% of the sample had been raised by someone who attended boarding school. People raised by boarding school attendees were significantly more likely to have a general anxiety disorder, experience posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime compared to others.

Language: en