ED 353 517 CG 024 735 TITLE Fighting Back: The Cultural Context of Drug and Alcohol Use among Youth. INSTITUTION Social Development Commission, Milwaukee, WI. PUB DATE [92] NOTE 130p.; Funding for this study was provided by Fighting Back, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Foundation. PUB TYPE Reports Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS American Indians; Asian Americans; *At Risk Persons; Blacks; Community Involvement; *Cultural Context; *Drinking; *Drug Use; Family Relationship; Hispanic Americans; *Incidence; Minority Groups; Substance Abuse; Whites; *Youth Problems IDENTIFIERS African Americans; Native Americans; Wisconsin (Milwaukee) ABSTRACT In this study 194 African American, Southeast Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and White adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 were interviewed during April and May of 1991. Subjects were recruited through several community-based organizations, schools, and other youth-serving programs in the Fighting Back program area ;.n Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Open-ended interviews were conducted and the interviews were taped, translated, and transcribed for analysis. Twenty-six percent reported that they had never used alcohol or drugs. Using alcohol and drugs in the company of friends was the primary recreational activity for 40% of those interviewed. Warnings against drug and alcohol abuse from family members did not seem to work. About half felt that their neighborhood was a good one to live in, with Whites expressing the most negative feelings about their neighborhoods. Youth perceptions of the effectiveness of community messages aimed at deterring youth from substance abuse were divided into three categories: effective, not effective, and Lomewhat effective. Youth who were involved in some form of organized community, sports, or church activity were less likely to be engaged in use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. (ABL) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** FIGHTING BACK Milwaukee County 0 II J 1L 11 The Cultural Context of Drug and Alcohol Use U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Oft,e of Educational Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION Among Youth CENTER ERIC, This document has Peen reproduced as received from the person Cr organization originating .1 Minor changes have peen made to improve eproduchon Quality Points of new or opinions stated in this docu sent do not necessarily represent official DE RI Dosdion or poi., BEST COPY AVAILABLE PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE TIPS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SDC TO THE EDUC,ATIONA' RESO:JRCES 0 INFORMATION CENTER IERIC1 4. Fighting Back The Cultural Context of Drug and Alcohol Use Among Youth Social Development Commission 231 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI53203 Flora Cohen, Chairperson Robert Odom, Executive Director Neighborhood Cultural Study Janice Wilberg, Ph.D.,Director Department of Planning and Research Signe Waller, Ph.D., Study Director Mark Wojno, Ph.D., Research Coordinator Cultural Study Research Team Sharon Tom Udorn Phomsavath Khue Vang Douangmala Phrasavath Kevin Melsha Kari Rautmann Erin Robinson Jerome Mason Dorothy Robinson Jose Armando Mercado Brenda Rivera Michael Martin Funding for this study was provided by Fighting Back, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Foundation, and the Social Development Commission g) Table of Contents Executive Summary 1-17 Chapter I Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse Among Young People 1-19 ChapterII Occasions and Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse 20-32 ChapterIII How Real Is Peer Pressure? 33 42 Chapter IV The Power of the Family 43-68 Chapter V The Neighborhood Context of Alcohol and Drug Use 69-86 Chapter VI Perceptir:n of Community Messages 87-97 Chapter VII Community Alternatives and Substance Abuse 98-106 Summary 107-108 Executive Summary Fighting Back:The Cultural Context of Alcohol and Drug Use Among Youth Overview This study was conducted by the Social Development Commission with the support of Milwaukee's Fighting Back Initiative, United Way of Greate waukee, and the Milwaukee Foundation.In total, 194 African American, Southeast Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and White adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 25 were interviewed during April and May of 1991.These young people shared their day to day experiences with alcohol and drugs as well as information about their friends, families and neighborhoods. The interview data provides insight into the family and social context of youth alcohol and drug use and provides several '^y findings for use in prevention and treatment program development. Methodology Personal interviews were conducted with 194 adolescents and young adults in the following cultural/ethnic groups: African American 5 7 White 31 Hispanic 52 (Mexican) ( 32 ) (Puerto Rican) ( 18 ) (Central American) ( 2) Native American 28 Southeast Asian, Laos 26 (Hmong) (16) (Laotian) ( 10 ) The 194 young people who were interviewed represent a non-random sample; thatis, they are people who were recruited through several community-based organizations, schools, and other youth-serving programs In the Fighting Back target area (see map following this page). Because this was not a random sample, we do not fee, 1 BEST COPY AVAILABIt Fighting Back Target Area .71 WISCONSIN N Map IA ULWAUKEEbapsCowry USIBM4=1,NCI ri COOS Population: 199,192 Square Miles: 32.01 Zip Codes: 53204, 53205,53206 53208, 53210,53212 MILWAUKEE COUNTY 11eXt Census 1995 1995 Racial/Ethnic Composition Age Composition Household Composition ae% Average Site 2.13 White 35% under 18 over 55 9% 'Median Income $11.513 African klerten 64% 26.0% Asian. Arnor.oln 'Below Poverty line 3% Ferrel* Heeded 52.7% Native American 1% Teen Binh Rate 195.1 Other 7% pus%It dir I hal) Hispanict- 12% MO dr t 144avics air be el my was. BEST CO?Y AVAILABLE Swig Gomm 19115, Lk Oplors Coalition, 11185 SOUrcs:U.S. Coniat 1 9.3 i 1160. Ch d Mildadrie that our sample is representative of Milwaukee's young people in general.Individuals were interviewed by one of ten young interviewers - almost always by someone of the same cultural background.Interviews were conducted in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Laotian.All the Interviews were taped, translated and transcribed for analysis. The interviews were conducted in an open-ended manner, designed to obtain both quantifiable data (such as when use began, how frequent use occurred, etc.) and qualitative data (such as descriptions of family life or the feelings about the neighborhood).In this way, we hoped to capture information about the family, social,neighborhood, and cultural contexts of alcohol and orug use which would help us design better prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies. The analysis of the data followed the constant comparative method employed by Strauss (1978) in the development of grounded theory.For this study, the grounded theory approach has meant that we have not tested hypotheses formulated in advance of the interviews.Instead, we have attempted to generate theory or potential hypotheses from the interview data itself. Painstaking coding, comparison, and synthesis of 194 transcribed interviews resulted in the findings presented in this paper. This study is intended to provide a deeper understanding of the nature of alcohol and drug use among Milwaukee's adolescents and young adults.It is not intended to document the extent of use or abuse among youth nor to make general statements about cultural differences. Key Findings The key findings are summarized in the following sections: Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse Among Young People Occasions and Consequences of Abuse How Real is Peer Pressure? The Power of the Family The Neighbcrhood Context of Alcohol and Drug Abuse 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLF Perception of Community Messages Community Alternatives and Substance Abuse Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse Among Young People Of the 194 young people interviewed, 50 or 26% reported that they had never used alcohol or drugs.Ninety-nine young people or 51% of those interviewed indicated that they used alcohol or drugs with varying degrees of frequency and amounts short of meeting the DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual) III criteria for substance abuse; and 44 individuals or 23% described alcohol and drug using experiences which met the DSM 111 criteria for substance abuse.For the purpose of this study, we have decided to distinguish between substance use and substance abuse among youth notwithstanding the generally recognized position - which we endorse - that the use ty. illicit drugs and alcohol by underage persons constitutes abuse. We feel that the distinction between use and abuse provides us with much greater insight into factors influencing each. Percentage 80% 11.Abusers Abusers, Users, and Non-Users O-Users 111 Non -Users 60% 40% 20% African While Hispanic NativeSoutheast Americans American Asian 3 Cultural Groups and Use _Alcohol 100° (.0-Marijuana) 80° -Cocaine 60° / 40° .......... 20°/ '''''''- 4./Vi African White Hispanic NativeSoutheast TOTAL Americans American Asian Gender Differences In Frequent Use (A few times per week) 30%-- 29% e.m.i.s...Females 19% Alcohol Marijuana Cocaine The Special Case of Southeast Asians - Effect of Assimilation There was very little alcohol and drug use and virtually no reported abuse among the Southeast Asian youth who were interviewed. We think