The quantity, frequency, and variability of alcohol
and other substance use is described in a random sample of
1,436 enrolled members of four tribes from the northern
United States. Overall, males begin regular drinking at an
earlier age than do females (17 vs. 18.1 years), and more
males drink alcohol than females (70.7% to 60.4%). There
are some very heavy drinkers who drink daily in these
populations, but most drinkers are binge drinkers. On any
typical day abstinence from alcohol is the modal pattern.
That is, most respondents indicated very infrequent drinking,
and among the older age groups (40+), there is a high rate of
abstinence. Males drink more frequently and in larger
quantities than females. The number of drinking days per
month is 4.7 for males and 2.1 for females, and on those
days when drinking occurs, the males consume an average
of 5.7 drinks and females an average of 3.1. The highest
prevalence of drinking and the heaviest drinking occur
among those who are under the age of 30. With the
exception of tobacco use, which is high in all age categories,
the use of other drugs is highest in those under 30.