Drug and alcohol use among blacks: Mental health implications

Drugs and alcohol abuse is a global social problem with negative consequences on personal, community, and societal levels. Earlier research has shown that Blacks use drugs and alcohol less than their white and Hispanic counterparts. However, evidence also shows that there are more negative and severe drugs and alcoholinduced consequences among Blacks in the United States. This disconnect between the low prevalence and higher negative outcomes is worsened by lack of culturally appropriate and timely interventions. This chapter has four main sections. The first part begins with a case study and covers the causes of drugs and alcohol use among Black and the factors that contribute to drug use and abuse, the second part is devoted to the consequences or outcomes that result from drug and alcohol abuse, while the third and fourth sections address treatment options available to this population and mental health perceptions.