ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS AMONG BLACK, HISPANIC AND WHITE MEN - THE CONTRIBUTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD POVERTY

Objective: We examined the cross-sectional relationships between race/ ethnicity, neighborhood poverty and alcohol-related problems among bla ck, Hispanic and white male drinkers. Test hypotheses were that black and Hispanic men living in more impoverished neighborhoods would repor t increased numbers of alcohol-related problems than comparable white men. Method: Study hypotheses were tested in a sample of 744 black, Hi spanic and white men participating in the 1992 National Alcohol Follow -up Survey. Study hypotheses were analyzed using generalized linear mo del regression analysis. Results: Neighborhood poverty had a greater e ffect on alcohol-related problems in black than in white men, partiall y supporting our hypothesis. Black men living in more impoverished nei ghborhoods reported greater numbers of alcohol-related problems than c omparable white men; there were no race differences among more affluen t men. Neighborhood poverty had little effect on alcohol-related probl ems in Hispanic men. Conclusions: Findings suggest that, given unfavor able economic conditions, black men will report greater numbers of alc ohol-related problems than comparable white men.