Low rates of alcohol and tobacco use, strong cultural ties for Native American college students in the Southwest.

Introduction: College attendance is associated with an increased risk for substance use yet we know little about substance use among Native American college students and its regional variation. This study examined alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and their relation to gender, institution, age, and cultural involvement among Native American college students in the Southwest.

Methods: Native American community college and university students in a large Southwest city (N = 347) completed an online survey about past-month and lifetime substance use and involvement in cultural activities.