Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #100904

Edna B. Green, MEd, Public Health, Morgan State University Public Health Program, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, (410) 298-1714, ebgreen4@msn.com and Kim Dobson Sydnor, PhD, Public Health Program, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Jenkins Bldg - Suite 333, Baltimore, MD 21251.

Background: Alcohol use is the third leading avoidable cause of loss of life in the United States. It is a problem among adolescents, particularly in the area of binge and heavy drinking. Some factors noted to be associated with binge and heavy drinking include: peer use, poor family bonding, and juvenile delinquency. Less researched is the role of social engagement as it relates to the use among African American adolescents. Purpose: The proposed study will assess the association between social isolation among African American adolescents and young adults and their alcohol use. It will examine how this relationship is affected in the presence of peer use, juvenile crime and socio-demographic factors. Methods: Using data from waves I, II & III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), the research will focus on binge and heavy drinking by African Americans males and females from their teens (ages 13 to 18) to young adulthood (ages 21 to 26) and their association with social isolation, juvenile crime, family structure, peer use, and socio-demographic factors. Results: The preliminary results presented will be the descriptive statistics for each measure and the bivariate relationships between the alcohol outcomes and each of the measures. Implications: These preliminary results will lay the groundwork for the development of a multivariate model for analysis. The results from this further study will in turn add to the body of work regarding African American alcohol use and lead to improved program planning that target this problem.

Learning Objectives:

• (1)Discuss the role of peer relationships with alcohol use.
• (2)Increase knowledge about African American alcohol use and lead to improved program planning that target this problem.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.