The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of demographic, risk/protective factors, and other drug use on alcohol initiation, current use, and binge drinking among black and white inner-city middle school students. Data were obtained from a three-wave cohort of sixth - eighth grade students participating in a school-based alcohol use prevention program. From the fall of 1996 to the spring of 1998, 650 students completed the Youth Alcohol and Drug Survey (Werch, 1999). This instrument measures alcohol and drug consumption and alcohol-related cognitive, social and behavioral risk and protective factors. Logistic regression and descriptive statistics were used to predict factors associated with alcohol use practices between blacks and whites and to provide a descriptive profile. Dependent variables included ever-tried alcohol, current alcohol use, and binge drinking. Results of this study found differences across time and racial group for each of the three alcohol measures. Current drinking patterns were fairly similar in sixth and seventh grades, but differences were found in the eighth grade with whites being more likely use. More blacks were binge drinking in the sixth and seventh grade, whereas more whites were binge drinking in the eighth grade. Additionally, there were important differences in variables that promoted alcohol use among blacks and whites. The results of this study indicate that there are differences in the alcohol use practices of blacks and whites across time and the factors for use. As such, it is important to address age and race when developing alcohol use prevention/intervention programs.
Learning Objectives: To describe factors related to alcohol use among black and white middle school students. To describe the alcohol use practices of black and white middle school students. To determine differences in the alcohol use practices of black and white middle school students. To recognize the effects of time on the alcohol use practices of black and white middle school students.
Keywords: Ethnicity, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.