Substance use among young indigenous Sami – a summary of findings from the North Norwegian Youth Study
Spein AR

 

ABSTRACT [full text] [back to issue 67(1)]

Objectives. To summarise knowledge about substance use among young indigenous Sami living in Norway.

Study design. Data from the North Norwegian Youth Study (NNYS) – a longitudinal
questionnaire study conducted in 1994–1995 and 1997–1998 that represents the main source of information in the 1990s.

Methods. The 1994–1995 sample included 3 ,000 ethnically diverse high school students (response rate [RR]: 85%), while the 1997–1998 follow-up sample included 1,500 respondents (RR: 5 %).

Results. Young Sami did not show higher rates than their non-Sami peers for any of the investigated substances. In contrast, young Sami reported lower drinking rates at both assessments when compared with regional and national non-indigenous peers. Nonetheless, Sami with weaker cultural ties reported the highest intraethnic smoking and drinking rates.

Conclusions. Young Sami are not at higher risk for substance use than their regional and national non-indigenous peers. These findings contrast some findings among other indigenous groups indicating “high” indigenous and “low” majority substance use rates.
(Int J Circumpolar Health 2008; 67(1):122-134)

Keywords: cigarette smoking, alcohol use, adolescents, indigenous Sami, illicit substances