Purpose: Delinquency and substance abuse are frequently correlated. Rates of substance abuse in the American Indian population are higher than the national average, particularly for adolescents. This analysis investigates psychological and environmental factors associated with substance use, delinquency and subsequent incarceration in urban and reservation American Indian youth.

Methods: Data were collected in 2001 for the American Indian Multisector Help Inquiry (AIM-HI), a study of 196 urban and 205 reservation American Indian adolescents in a southwestern U.S. state. Interviewers asked youth questions about associations with deviant peers and family history of involvement with the law. The Youth Self Report was used to measure social problems and delinquent behaviors. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule measured psychiatric and substance use disorders. Chi square and t-test statistics were used for analysis.

Results: Youth who were jailed were more likely to be substance-dependent (33.3% vs. 8.6%), alcohol dependent (36% vs. 5%) and more likely to use or abuse drugs and alcohol. Jailed youth also had a significantly greater average number of substance abuse and dependence symptoms (35.3 vs. 15.3). They also lived in neighborhoods with more negative qualities (drug dealing, prostitution), had experienced a greater number of traumas, and had significantly more associations with peers who used drugs. A greater percentage of jailed youth had attempted suicide, and had a diagnosis of conduct disorder. Although family history of substance use disorders and delinquency were higher in youth who were jailed, this difference was not significant.

Implications: The underlying risk factors, addictions, and mental health problems of these American Indian youth in the criminal justice system are similar to those found in other research with different ethnic groups. Yet, we know that their environment is often much more stressed than that of most other groups. Therefore, intervention must address their environments as well as providing direct services and referrals to social service and psychiatric care.