Indian Country alcohol death rate high
Friday, August 29th, 2008Bans on the sale and possession of alcoholic beverages on certain Indian reservations have been shown to reduce consumption and related harms, although the efficacy of such policies is influenced by access to alcohol in surrounding communities.
Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of preventable death among American Indians and Alaska Natives, federal health officials reported in August.
Based on data from 2001-2005, the Indian Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 11.7 percent of deaths among Native Americans were alcohol-related. This was twice the rate of the general population. (more…)