The authors investigated discrepancies in arrest rates between Black and White male juveniles by examining the role of early risk factors for arrest. Two hypotheses were evaluated: (a) Disproportionate minority arrest is due to increased exposure to early risk factors, and (b) a differential sensitivity to early risk factors contributes to…

Conducted baseline assessments of 104 cocaine patients during treatment. After treatment, assessed subjects weekly for 12 weeks, then 6 months from study start. Goal of absolute abstinence, greater expected success in quitting, and positive moods predicted lower risk of lapse in first 12 weeks. Use of more coping strategies predicted abstinence…

Examined interrelationships among sex, race, drug-use patterns, and personality variables in chronic users of illicit drugs. Blacks were characterized by lower levels of sensation seeking, less psychopathology, use of fewer drug categories, and later drug use than Whites. Use and personality patterns among women differed little from men.…

Adolescent substance abuse efforts often direct prevention at known correlates of substance use. Discusses prevention efforts targeted toward minority populations. Assesses group differences using data from 981 Black and White adolescents and latent variable structural equations techniques. Concludes risk factor measures predict substance use for…

This study used semi-parametric group-based modeling to explore unconditional and conditional trajectories of self-reported depressed mood from ages 12 to 25 years. Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 11,559), 4 distinct trajectories were identified: no depressed mood, stable low depressed mood, early…