On a national level urban Indian youth have a high school drop out rate over 75 percent and reservation drop-out rates range from 50 percent to 80 percent. In addition to high drop-out rates Indian youth are at high risk in other areas. The Indian suicide rate is four times higher than all other races. Urban Indians have a higher mortality rate from alcoholism and related causes than any other race. Unintentional injuries and suicide account for nearly 75 percent of the total death rate for Indian adolescents.
Suicide is the second leading cause for death among American Indian adolescents.
The death rate of Indian males ages 10 to 19 is nearly three times higher than those for males the same age of all other races. Often Indian youth are living below poverty and attending schools with limited resources. Urban Indian unemployment is double that of all other races. Native Americans have a rate of alcoholism six times that of all races in America. In short, Native American youth frequently live in poverty, surrounded by alcoholism and violence, with limited educational opportunities, and very low expectations for their future.