Patterns of Substance Abuse among Rural Black Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescent substance abuse continues to be a major health-related problem in this country. Although substantial information is available on the overall incidence of use, comparatively little attention has been given to use patterns among minority adolescents or those who reside in nonmetropolitan areas. Using data from the most recent Monitoring the Future survey, we examine the role of race and residence in affecting substance abuse patterns. Overall, our findings are consistent with previously reported research in indicating that residence differences are modest. Additionally, compared with Whites, Black youth are much less likely to report drug use. In the bivariate analysis, major correlates of use include gender, family structure, religious attendance, grade point average (GPA), and the availability of unearned income. In the multivariate analysis, race, family structure, religious attendance, GPA, and unearned income remain significant. The potential protective role played by family and church in the rural, Black context is discussed.