Alcohol use among adolescent minority groups

Drinking and drug use in a sample of minority students in the state of New York were studied. Minority groups were compared with White groups and with each other on the prevalence of drinking and heavy drinking, distribution of quantity of consumption, relationship between drinking and social problems, and relationship between drinking and drug use. There are high proportions of heavy drinkers and drug users among American Indian adolescents. Black students are relatively low in alcohol and drug use in comparison to Hispanics and Whites who have intermediate levels of heavy drinking and drug use. The drinking by Oriental youths is unique in that males drink heavily and females are light drinkers. Those groups with the highest proportion of drinkers also have the highest proportion of heavy drinkers. The groups with the most drinking also have the highest prevalence of drug use.