TY - JOUR
T1 - Racial differences in trajectories of heavy drinking and regular marijuana use from ages 13 to 24 among African-American and White males
AU - Finlay, Andrea K.
AU - White, Helene R.
AU - Mun, Eun Young
AU - Cronley, Courtney C.
AU - Lee, Chioun
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported, in part, by grants from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism ( ARRA R01 AA016798 , AA019511 ), National Institute of Mental Health ( P30 MH079920 ; R01 MH73941 ), National Institute on Drug Abuse ( R01 DA 411018 ), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention ( OJJDP 2005-JK-FX-0001 ; 96-MU-FX-0012 ), and the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
PY - 2012/2/1
Y1 - 2012/2/1
N2 - Background: Although there are significant differences in prevalence of substance use between African-American and White adolescents, few studies have examined racial differences in developmental patterns of substance use, especially during the important developmental transition from adolescence to young adulthood. This study examines racial differences in trajectories of heavy drinking and regular marijuana use from adolescence into young adulthood. Methods: A community-based sample of non-Hispanic African-American (n=276) and non-Hispanic White (n=211) males was analyzed to identify trajectories from ages 13 to 24. Results: Initial analyses indicated race differences in heavy drinking and regular marijuana use trajectories. African Americans were more likely than Whites to be members of the nonheavy drinkers/nondrinkers group and less likely to be members of the early-onset heavy drinkers group. The former were also more likely than the latter to be members of the late-onset regular marijuana use group. Separate analyses by race indicated differences in heavy drinking for African Americans and Whites. A 2-group model for heavy drinking fit best for African Americans, whereas a 4-group solution fit best for Whites. For regular marijuana use, a similar 4-group solution fit for both races, although group proportions differed. Conclusions: Within-race analyses indicated that there were clear race differences in the long-term patterns of alcohol use; regular marijuana use patterns were more similar. Extended follow ups are needed to examine differences and similarities in maturation processes for African-American and White males. For both races, prevention and intervention efforts are necessary into young adulthood.
AB - Background: Although there are significant differences in prevalence of substance use between African-American and White adolescents, few studies have examined racial differences in developmental patterns of substance use, especially during the important developmental transition from adolescence to young adulthood. This study examines racial differences in trajectories of heavy drinking and regular marijuana use from adolescence into young adulthood. Methods: A community-based sample of non-Hispanic African-American (n=276) and non-Hispanic White (n=211) males was analyzed to identify trajectories from ages 13 to 24. Results: Initial analyses indicated race differences in heavy drinking and regular marijuana use trajectories. African Americans were more likely than Whites to be members of the nonheavy drinkers/nondrinkers group and less likely to be members of the early-onset heavy drinkers group. The former were also more likely than the latter to be members of the late-onset regular marijuana use group. Separate analyses by race indicated differences in heavy drinking for African Americans and Whites. A 2-group model for heavy drinking fit best for African Americans, whereas a 4-group solution fit best for Whites. For regular marijuana use, a similar 4-group solution fit for both races, although group proportions differed. Conclusions: Within-race analyses indicated that there were clear race differences in the long-term patterns of alcohol use; regular marijuana use patterns were more similar. Extended follow ups are needed to examine differences and similarities in maturation processes for African-American and White males. For both races, prevention and intervention efforts are necessary into young adulthood.
KW - Developmental trajectories
KW - Heavy drinking
KW - Racial differences
KW - Regular marijuana use
KW - Transition to adulthood
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855883656&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.08.020
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.08.020
M3 - Article
C2 - 21908109
AN - SCOPUS:84855883656
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 121
SP - 118
EP - 123
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
IS - 1-2
ER -