Native Americans have the highest alcohol-related death rates of all ethnic groups, with age adjusted rates attributed to alcohol being five times higher than those for the general U.S. population (Shalala et al., 1999). Depending on the individual tribe sampled and their sanctions concerning alcohol use, prevalence rates of alcohol dependence of 20–80% for men and 10–55% for women have been reported (Beals et al., 2005; Gilder et al., 2004; Kinzie et al., 1992; Kunitz et al., 1999a; Robin et al., 1998; Wall et al., 2003). Despite the devastating impact that alcohol has had, the risk factors that may predispose a greater proportion of individuals in some Native American communities to develop alcohol use disorders remains unclear.
