Research has shown significant ethnic differences in HIV rates, with African-American and Hispanic youth representing 61 percent and 21 percent of new AIDS cases, respectively. This figure is startling given the fact that African-American youth comprise only 15 percent of all 13- to 19-year-old adolescents in the United States. The goal of the current study was to assess the risky sexual and drug use behaviors of 138 African-American and Cuban-American adolescent offenders and to explore differences between these 2 groups. Participants were 81 African-American and 57 Cuban-American adolescents recruited from a juvenile detention facility and from a court-ordered treatment center. Participants completed assessment interviews measuring sex risk and drug risk variables. Results of statistical analyses indicated higher levels of sex and drug risk behaviors among the Cuban-American adolescents during the 6 months prior to detention. The discussion focuses on possible explanations for the high level of risk behaviors among Cuban-American youth, including differences in the health messages targeted at the two groups, as well as family cultural factors. Implications for social work practice are reviewed and include the participation of family members in prevention efforts. Tables, references