Social transition in the north: comparisons of drug-taking behavior among Alaska and Russian natives.

OBJECTIVES This study represents a continuation of the work initiated by the "Social Transition in the North" (STN) project. This research extends the findings from earlier reports, specifically focusing on comparisons of drug-taking behavior among Alaska and Siberian Eskimos; it is one of the first studies that obtained substance abuse data from Russian Natives in eastern Russian. STUDY DESIGN The data were taken from the STN study was collected in two regions of Alaska (Northwest Arctic and the Aleutian Islands) and in two regions of the Russian Far East (Kamchatka and Chukotka). The health questionnaire included questions about the drug taking behavior of the study populations. METHODS The methodology employed was responses to a questionnaire, administered by the initial Social Transitions team. Imbedded in the interview protocols were questions (in a quantitative format) that inquired about drinking and other drug use. Seven-hundred interviews, conducted the first year, formed the database for the findings reported herein. Of these respondents, 45% are Alaska Native; 55% are Russian Natives. Ages ranged from 13 to 60, with a mean of 38 years. Among the Alaskan group, 35% were male, 65% female; of the Russians, 25% were female, 75% were male. RESULTS The Russian cohort consumed significantly higher levels of alcohol, while the Alaskan group reported higher levels of marijuana, cocaine, inhalants and chewing tobacco. CONCLUSIONS The differences found were attributable to cultural practices, reflected by the traditional drinking practices in Russian and to the rising substance abuse problem in the U.S.