Psychosocial, Alcohol/Other Drug Use, and Delinquency Differences between Urban Black and White Male High Risk Youth

Using data collected on 286 Black and White male youths entering a juvenile detention center, we examine differences in their psychosocial functioning, substance use, and delinquency/crime. Comparison is made on a wide range of variables, including sociodemographic characteristics, family problems, records of contact with the juvenile court, physical abuse or sexual victimization history, alcohol/other drug use, friends' involvement in substance use and crime, and emotional/psychological functioning problems. Implications of the results for understanding the youths' involvement in the juvenile justice system, and for the development of, and linkage with, appropriate services, are drawn.