The findings reveal that the magnitude of the needs and problems of urban black families has increased to crisis proportions while social support has decreased significantly, largely due to Federal cutbacks to and economic hardships on urban cities. The reversal of a trend toward black, single-parent families, black children in poverty, and high rates of substance abuse will take the efforts of all sectors of private and public leadership as well as that of black families themselves. The extreme rates of problem drinking and drug abuse in urban cities were found to be influenced by numerous family-related conditions, including family instability, poverty, family migration, fatherless households, unstable employment, high accessibility to alcohol and illicit drugs, and urban residence. Moreover, substance abuse was found to be associated with various family problems, such as financial problems, family fights, homicide, illness, parental irresponsibility, unstable work habits, police arrest, and marital disruption. Recommendations are aimed at facilitating stable and strengthened black families as well as preventing, minimizing, and correcting substance-abuse problems. 98 references, 19-item annotated bibliography. (Author summary modified)