Results indicated that several factors were predictive of Black American adolescent’s attitudes regarding substance use, including having peers who disapproved of drug use, having parents who expressed disapproval for high risk behaviors, and having high levels of parental supervision. Factors unrelated to Black American adolescent attitudes toward substance use included student grade level, gender, single-parent household, and level of peer bond. The findings suggest that the factors associated with positive development in Black American youth need to be studied from the perspective of the contextual environment and cultural values of this population. Culturally appropriate interventions should focus on increasing ethnic affiliation and cultural pride. Future research should investigate whether parental messages regarding discrimination are given prior to or in response to adolescent substance use affirming attitudes. Participants were 180 Black American youth recruited from grades 9 through 12 in high schools and youth oriented community centers located in urban, economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in the New York Metropolitan area. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring parent-child involvement, parental supervision, and parent attitudes toward high risk behaviors; peer bonds and peer attitudes toward high risk behaviors; and ethnic identity, parental racial socialization, and extended family support. Data analysis involved the calculation of a correlation matrix for all study variables and regression models. Tables, references