Differences between white and black youth who drink heavily

This study compares the attitudes and beliefs of white and black adolescents who drink heavily. The study's sample comprises 1,533 youth who responded in 1987 to a survey of 10,259 7th to 12th grade students, and reported that they had gotten drunk at least six times within the previous year. The ratio of blacks to whites decreased with drinking severity. Controlling for age, sex, and living situation, a logistic regression revealed that blacks were significantly more likely than whites to believe that getting drunk would lead to health problems and that alcohol is addicting. Blacks were also more concerned than whites about their parents' disapproval of their drinking alcohol, while whites were more concerned than blacks about their friends' disapproval. The study suggests that programs targeted towards black youth who drink heavily should focus less on enhancing peer refusal skills and more on ensuring that black parents and other adults make explicit their negative attitudes towards alcohol use.