Psychosocial Predictors of Substance Use Among Urban Black Male Adolescents (From Current Perspectives in Ethnic Minority Drug Abuse Research, Special Edition of Drugs and Society, J E Trimble, C S Bolek, et al, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 130085
• Author(s): K I Maton; M A Zimmerman
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 42 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01DA04766; 87JNCX0010
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The frequency of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drug use among urban black male adolescents was predicted using lifestyle, social support/stress, and well-being variables.

Abstract

The sample included 150 black male adolescents from Baltimore. Most study participants had dropped out of school. They completed an initial 90-minute interview and a followup interview 6 months later. Prevalence rates for illicit substance use among the sample were higher than the national average. The percentages of youth reporting at least some substance use during the past 6 months were 61 percent for alcohol, 39 percent for marijuana, and 16 percent for hard drugs. Most frequently used hard drugs were cocaine, smack, and depressants. Different psychosocial variables predicted the use of different substances. Lifestyle was a significant predictor of marijuana and hard drug use at both measurement points and a predictor of alcohol use at one measurement point. Significant variance in alcohol use was explained by the support/stress variable at both measurement points and in marijuana use at one measurement point. Independent variance in substance use was explained by in-school status (alcohol and marijuana), spirituality (marijuana and hard drugs), and life event stress (marijuana). In-school status and life event stress at the second measurement point explained significant variance in alcohol use, while parent support at the second measurement point was related to marijuana use. Low self-esteem at the first measurement point predicted increased marijuana use six months later. Suggestions for further research and implications of the study findings for preventive intervention are discussed. 42 references and 6 tables (Author abstract modified)