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Substance Use Trajectories of Black and White Young Men from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood: A Two-Part Growth Curve Analysis

NCJ Number
233387
Journal
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: October - December 2010 Pages: 301-319
Author(s)
Chioun Lee; Eun-Young Mun; Helene R. White; Patricia Simon
Date Published
October 2010
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the trajectories of substance use among a sample of Black and White young men as they progressed from adolescence to young adulthood.
Abstract
This study examined trajectories of substance use among Black and White young men (N = 983) from adolescence to emerging adulthood using two-part growth curve analysis. Controlling for parental socioeconomic status, Blacks were significantly less likely to use alcohol and hard drugs than Whites at age 17 and drank significantly fewer drinks. The alcohol prevalence gap between Blacks and Whites further increased over time. Blacks in the older cohort had higher growth in the frequency of alcohol use than Whites. Blacks and Whites did not differ in prevalence of marijuana use, although Blacks in the younger cohort reported higher growth in prevalence and higher frequency at age 17. Different prevention approaches may be needed to reduce substance use among Blacks and Whites. Tables, figures, references (Published Abstract)