Adolescent Alcohol Abuse: Subgroup Differences and Relationships to Other Problem Behaviors

Abstract

Alcohol is the most widely used-and abused-drug by American youth. Because of the prevalence of youthful alcohol abuse, there is increasing public attention toward developing alcohol-specific prevention and treatment programs for adolescents. However, studies also show that youthful alcohol abuse is associated with a variety of other adolescent problem behaviors, such as illicit drug use and delinquency. These associations have provided empirical support for what Jessor and associates have conceptualized as problem behavior theory. In this information, alcohol abuse is viewed as one aspect of a psychosocial proneness toward engaging in problem behavior; or stated more succinctly, adolescent problem drinking is part of a problem behavior syndrome. The present study will determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol abuse using a very large representative sample of secondary school students in New York State. The relationships between alcohol-related problems and other problem behaviors will be examined in the context of adolescent problem behavior theory. In addition, the extent of alcohol problems and the relationships between alcohol abuse and other problem behaviors may be different in minority groups than among the majority population of youth. These issues have not been adequately studied since most surveys of adolescent drinking have not included large numbers of Black, Hispanic, and other minority youth. However, service providers and program planners indicate a great concern about alcohol abuse among these special youthful populations. The ethnic diversity of New York State and this large sample of over 27,000 students permit an examination of alcohol abuse among specific adolescent minority groups.