ABSTRACT
Even as we near the end of the last decade of the twentieth century, substance abuse continues to have a significant impact on the social fabric, the economic landscape, and the public health of all Americans. For Americans of African descent, the effects are even more profound. For this reason, it is critical that society supports efforts to understand the fundamental mechanisms that underlie substance abuse and to develop effective substance abuse prevention programs. These intervention efforts must be built upon a sound scientific base and the experience of previous successful prevention efforts. The purpose of this chapter is to explore substance abuse issues relevant to Americans of African descent and to discuss the barriers to substance abuse prevention in many African-American communities.
