Survey data were collected from 516 Hispanic males and females in grades 9 and 10 in the Los Angeles area. Most participants were ages 15-16, first generation of Mexican descent, and raised by parents without a high school diploma. Cultural identity was measured with respect to both Latino and American identity and across several domains: language, values, and behavior. Results revealed that drug use among these adolescents is a complex, multiply determined behavior. Cultural identity affects drug use, but the relationships depends on the type of drug use, gender, and particular aspects of cultural identity. Findings suggest the need for programs that foster cultural identity among Latino youth; positive Latina and Latino role models for Latino youth; and cohesive, positive activism and feminism within Latino communities. This focus should also be balanced with the building of basic coping skills and the enhancement of protective factors in the environment. Figures, tables, notes, and 17 references