NCJ Number
233893
Journal
Sociological Spectrum Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2011 Pages: 3-31
Date Published
February 2011
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This study examines Black and White differences in drug and alcohol abuse at adolescent and early adulthood.
Abstract
Blacks have lower rates of substance use and abuse than whites in early adolescence and young adulthood but similar or higher rates by middle adulthood, which could be due to Blacks being less likely to age (i.e., mature) out of deviance than Whites by transitioning into high-quality conventional social roles. Using the National Comorbidity Survey (1990-1992), this study finds that work, economic conditions, and family roles explain the race-by-age crossover for drug abuse and explain most of this relationship for alcohol use and abuse. There is no race-by-age crossover for drug use. Thus, even though Blacks have lower substance use and abuse than Whites at younger ages, this advantage is eliminated and even reversed due to the disadvantages Blacks face over the life course. (Published Abstract) Tables and references