The findings suggest that racial differences in substance use evident in adolescence are preceded by racial differences in attitudes and intentions evident in childhood. Consistent with study hypotheses and with the literature, Black children held more negative attitudes toward alcohol use and were less likely to intend to use it in the future than were White children. This difference was evident as early as grades one and two. A similar race difference for cocaine was found only in the first of the three studies. In the later elementary school years, few children reported having ever drunk alcohol without parental permission or having more than a sip with parental permission. Race differences in actual substance use may not become apparent until the middle school years. Black children were more likely than White children to believe that alcohol and cocaine use resulted in loss of control and in negative long-term effects on health and social adjustment. The study could not identify factors that explained these early racial differences in attitudes and intentions regarding alcohol and cocaine use. Recommendations are offered for future research. A total of 907 elementary students participated in 3 studies. The students were drawn from eight metropolitan Catholic parochial schools selected for their socioeconomic and racial diversity. Study one involved grades one through six; and studies two and three involved students from grades three through six. Students completed a questionnaire on their knowledge of alcohol and cocaine and attitudes and intentions toward their use. 5 tables and 33 references