PSYCHOSOCIAL, ALCOHOL OTHER DRUG-USE, AND DELINQUENCY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN URBAN BLACK-AND-WHITE MALE HIGH-RISK YOUTH/

Using data collected on 286 Black and White male youths entering a juv enile detention center, we examine differences in their psychosocial f unctioning, substance use, and delinquency/crime. Comparison is made o n a wide range of variables, including sociodemographic characteristic s, family problems, records of contact with the juvenile court, physic al abuse or sexual victimization history, alcohol/other drug use, frie nds' involvement in substance use and crime, and emotional/psychologic al functioning problems. Implications of the results for understanding the youths' involvement in the juvenile justice system, and for the d evelopment of, and linkage with, appropriate services, are drawn.