ABSTRACT
Next to racism and poverty, substance abuse has long been described as the primary health and social problem of the African-American community (Cherry, Belgrave, Jones, Kennon, Gray, & Phillips, 1998; Robinson, Harper, & Schoeny, 2003; Gil, Vega, & Turner, 2002; Watts & Wright, 1983). Consistent evidence in the literature discusses the devastating effects of substance abuse that is increasingly encroaching on the lives of African-American children and adolescents. The context of alcohol and drug use in the black community, particularly low-income and poverty-stricken communities, is especially problematic due to the high visibility and accessibility to alcohol and drugs, drug compromised relationships (whether direct or peripheral to people who use, sell, or work as couriers), and a lack of perceived or real options in life (Goddard, 1993; James & Johnson, 1996; Newton, 1993).
