Variables associated with adolescent alcohol use: A multiethnic comparison

The authors examined the influence of sociodemographic variables on the fre quency and intensity of alcohol use among a nationally representative sampl e of Black, Hispanic, and White adolescents who had participated in the 199 1 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (U.S. Department of Health and Hu man Services, 1993). The sample consisted of 8,756 U.S. adolescents aged 12 to 18 years: The authors found that (a) approximately 19% of the responden ts had used alcohol in the last 30 days; (b) among the respondents who had used alcohol, 21% had consumed I or more drinks per drinking episode; and ( c) there were important similarities as well as important differences in va riables that promoted alcohol use among Black, Hispanic, and White adolesce nts.