Based on interviews with more than a thousand Navajo Indian men and women, this book examines the associations between childhood experiences and behaviour and the development of alcohol dependence in adulthood. Because Navajo life has changed markedly over the past two generations, it also examines the role of urbanization and universal school in reshaping Navajo youth and considers the implications for changing patterns of alcohol use in adulthood. In addition the book explores a wide range of timely issues such as domestic violence, factors associated with resistance to alcohol abuse as well as remission and recovery, the treatment and prevention of alcohol dependence, and the implications of pursuing either population-based preventive interventions or interventions focused on high risk individuals or groups.