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Social Context of Substance Use Among African American Youth: Rural, Urban and Suburban Comparisons

NCJ Number
166894
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1996) Pages: 68-85
Author(s)
M P Dawkins
Date Published
1996
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Black youth in urban and suburban settings were compared with black youth in rural settings with respect to their perceptions and behaviors related to alcohol and other drugs.
Abstract
The data came from a subsample of 3,009 African Americans who took part in the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 and followups in 1990 and 1992. Results revealed that overall, drug abuse is perceived as a relatively serious problem at school; alcohol or illegal drugs were rated among the top three problems at school by youth in eighth grade. In addition, by the 12th grade most adolescents had tried alcohol, and a substantial proportion had used marijuana. Early drug use and peer influence were major determinants of later drug use within each context. However, some important differences existed in the prediction of alcohol and marijuana use within each social context. Findings suggest the need to take into account the relative importance of selective sociodemographic, risk factors, and protective factors for drug use within different settings. Tables and 42 references (Author abstract modified)