ADOLESCENT MARIJUANA USE IN NATIVE AMERICANS

描述(由申请人提供)： 尽管各部落在酒精和毒品的使用方面存在差异，但美国印第安人健康服务机构将药物滥用列为美洲原住民面临的最紧迫的健康问题之一。在美洲土著人口的某些部分中，可归因于酒精和毒品的发病率和死亡率处于流行水平。调查数据显示，美国印第安人青少年吸食毒品的比例普遍高于其他民族，尤其是大麻。尽管酒精和毒品在一些部落产生了毁灭性的影响，但药物滥用如何以及为什么在一些美洲原住民社区更加普遍仍不清楚。在大多数人群中的研究表明，大约50%-60%的药物依赖差异可以由遗传/生物因素解释。该研究计划的总体目标是加强对圣地亚哥县土著保留地印第安人大麻使用和使用障碍的神经行为风险因素和后果的了解。根据DSM IV，在目前评估的人群中发现了33%的大麻依赖终生流行率，与成年人相比，使命印度青少年吸毒者患大麻依赖的可能性要大得多。在这项应用中提出的研究旨在为那些从吸食大麻发展到滥用和依赖的美洲原住民青年寻找可识别的神经生物学(EEG，ERPs，候选基因多态(FAAH，CNR1))和/或行为/认知(神经心理，主观影响的测量)标记物。以及根据MRI、EEG、ERPS、神经心理和行为功能的指标，确定反复接触青春期大麻后印度使团的任何长期神经适应性变化。我们相信，这些研究不仅可以确定与这些部落中大麻依赖的风险和后果相关的因素，而且最终还应该指导预防和干预计划的发展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although tribes differ with regard to the use of alcohol and drugs the U.S. Indian Health Service has cited substance abuse as one of the most urgent health problems facing Native Americans. Morbidity and mortality rates attributable to alcohol and drugs among certain segments of the Native American population are at epidemic levels. Survey data suggest that American Indian youths' use of drugs is generally higher than any other ethnic group particularly for marijuana. Despite the devastating impact that alcohol and drugs has had in some tribes, how and why substance abuse is more prevalent in some Native American communities remains unclear. It appears from studies in the majority population that approximately 50-60% of the variance for drug dependence may be explained by genetic/biological factors. The overall objective of the research plan is to enhance understanding of the neurobehavioral risk factors for, and consequences of, marijuana use and use disorders in reservation dwelling Indians indigenous to San Diego county. A 33% lifetime prevalence rate for marijuana dependence, based on DSM IV, has been found in the currently assessed population and Mission Indian adolescent users are significantly more likely to develop marijuana dependence as compared to adults. Studies are proposed in this application aimed at finding identifiable neurobiological (EEG, ERPs, candidate gene polymorphisms (FAAH, CNR1)) and/or behavioral/cognitive (neuropsychological, measures of subjective effects) markers for those Native American youth who progress from marijuana use to abuse, and to dependence. As well as identify any long-term neuroadaptive changes in Mission Indians after repeated adolescent marijuana exposure as indexed by MRI, EEG, ERPs, neuropsychological and behavioral functioning. We believe these studies will not only allow for the identification of factors associated with risk for and consequences of marijuana dependence in these tribes but eventually should also guide the development of prevention and intervention programs.