NCJ Number
164986
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 215-235
Date Published
1996
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Data from 1,247 high-risk students in four public schools in Charleston, S.C. were used to analyze the roles of various predictors of juvenile drug use for black and white students.
Abstract
Data were collected in spring 1991, when the participants were in grades 6-9 and in spring 1992, when the students were in grades 7-10. Information was collected from school records, teacher ratings on the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist, and a 184-item student questionnaire called What About You. The data were analyzed by means of t tests and logistic regression analyses. Results revealed that, without adjustments, whites were significantly higher than blacks on socioeconomic status, grade point average, and drug modeling and attitudes favoring drug use. Blacks were significantly higher on positive peer influence, commitment to education, belief in rules, self-efficacy expectations, parental supervision, and officially reported conduct disorder. Whites were significantly higher on prior year use of cigarettes, alcohol, hallucinogens, and marijuana. After controlling for predictors, the race effect remained significant in the prediction of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use. Finally, across all drug use categories, negative behavior and attitudes favoring drug use were the most important predictors of adolescent drug use for both black and white youths. Tables, notes, and 33 references (Author abstract modified)