Variance in substance use between rural black and white Mississippi high school students

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the use of substances varies between black and white students in a sample of primarily rural Mississippi adolescents. It was found that black adolescent males were significantly less likely than white adolescent males to drink alcohol, get drunk, smoke cigarettes, use smokeless tobacco, hallucinogens, and sedatives. Black adolescent females were significantly less likely than white adolescent females to drink alcohol, get drunk, smoke cigarettes, and use marijuana. Differences in proportions of black and white females were more pronounced than differences between black and white males. Possible reasons for these differences are explored.