Alcohol-specific and socio-cultural determinants of alcohol use among adolescents of color

ABSTRACT

Substantial racial/ethnic disparities exist in adolescent alcohol use and related consequences. Although many protective and risk factors influence adolescent alcohol use across racial/ethnic groups, some determinants of alcohol use are more salient among adolescents of color. Understanding the determinants of alcohol use that are most relevant to adolescents of color is critical to informing the content of culturally sensitive prevention programs. This paper focuses on two categories of determinants of alcohol use that are often targeted in culturally sensitive prevention programs: alcohol-specific behavioral determinants and socio-cultural determinants. The paper also reviews the literature on how socio-cultural determinants influence alcohol use through alcohol-specific determinants among adolescents of color, and concludes by discussing implications for future research, prevention, and social work education.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use
• behavioral determinants
• prevention
• racial and ethnic disparity
• socio-cultural determinants
• youth

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).