Early and mid-adolescence risk factors for later substance abuse by African Americans and European Americans.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the relationship between risk factors experienced during adolescence by African Americans and European Americans and DSM-IV alcohol dependence and marijuana abuse or dependence in early adulthood.


METHODS
The authors followed a cohort of adolescents from 1990-91 (grades 6 and 7) to 1998-2000 (ages 19-21), evaluating risk factors during early adolescence as predictors of DSM-IV alcohol dependence and marijuana abuse and dependence.


RESULTS
African Americans had higher exposure to school, family structure, delinquency, and psychosocial factors. School factors and drug-use modeling of peers and family were the most important risk factors for marijuana abuse or dependence for both European and African Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
Personal, familial, and social context factors during early adolescence affect adult drug-use problems, particularly for African Americans. Levels of drug use are lower among African Americans, but exposure to risks is higher and there are clear differences in the long-range impact of risk factors. These findings highlight the importance of developing and timing appropriate prevention efforts.
Gil
Andres G
AG
School of Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA. gila@fiu.edu
Vega
William A
WA
Turner
R Jay
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000208:ethnology*; D010379:Peer Group; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data