A PILOT-STUDY OF ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION AMONG ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG-ADULT FEMALES ATTENDING HEALTH CLINICS

The purpose of this study was to examine the alcohol and cigarette use patterns of adolescent and young adult female patients attending publ ic health clinics. Two-hundred and forty-sir females from two public h ealth clinics in Jacksonville, Florida, participated in a general heal th risk survey to determine patient needs for providing future prevent ive health services. Greater proportions of both adolescent and young adult white females were found to engage in lifetime alcohol and cigar ette use, and reported having smoked while pregnant, than comparable a ged black females. Significantly more adult white females than adult b lack females were found to experience various alcohol problems. Smokin g differences between Whites and Blades was inversely related to educa tion, with greater smoking risk associated with less education among W hites and more education among Blacks. The present study indicates tha t female patients may have differential needs regarding alcohol and to bacco preventive services.