ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG-USE PATTERNS AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICAN, MEXICAN, AND CAUCASIAN ADOLESCENTS - NEW DIRECTIONS FOR ASSESSMENT AND RESEARCH

Examined substance abuse rates among subgroups of Mexican-American students by comparing alcohol and drug use rates of Mexican-American adolescents born in the United States to those of Mexican-American students born in Mexico and to Caucasian students attending the same schools. A total of 3,404 ninth- and 11th-grade students were surveyed using the California Substance Use Survey (Skager, Austin, & Firth, 1991; Skager, Firth, & Maddahian, 1989). It was found that Mexican females abstain the most from drug and alcohol use. Mexican males also reported lower drug and alcohol use than their Mexican-American and Caucasian counterparts, who had similar rates of alcohol use. In terms of prevention and intervention, Caucasian ninth graders reported the highest percentages receiving a substance abuse prevention program for at least part of a semester. Mexican-American students, however, were more likely to report not having received any prevention programming in school. Implications for assessment and prevention are discussed.