Drug-Related Cognitions among Minority Youth

Abstract

Interviews with a nationwide sample of young and low-income black, chicano, and Caribbean men and women, as well as with their nonminority counterparts, reveal that the large majority are uninformed about the effects of licit and illicit drugs; nor do they know much about a range of other drug-related consequences. Of the ethnic groups queried, Caribbean men, and white men and women are most informed. These data, coupled with other findings drawn from a more lengthy report, lead to the conclusion that although one-half of the respondents have used illicit drugs, new sources of accurate information which are attuned to the backgrounds and language of youthful minorities are required for successful drug abuse intervention.