Use of a Social Indicator System to Assess Alcoholism among Indian People in Minnesota

A social indicator system was used to assess alcohol-related problems among American Indian people in Minnesota. Instead of counting "cases," the method involved using "events" that were recorded by various social institutions in the course of their work. The system showed that Indian people commonly encountered alcohol-related "events" that led to death or to social institutions with a poor record of problem resolution (foster homes, jail, prison, welfare agencies). However, they infrequently appeared in psychiatric facilities with alcohol-related "events."