NCJ Number
48908
Journal
American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 125 Issue: 12 Dated: (JUNE 1969) Pages: 96-104
Date Published
1969
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF DRINKING PROBLEMS AMONG URBAN BLACKS ARE EXPLORED IN AN INTERVIEW STUDY OF 223 MALES BORN IN ST. LOUIS, MO., BETWEEN 1930 AND 1934.
Abstract
ALL OF THE SUBJECTS HAD ATTENDED SEGREGATED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN ST. LOUIS GHETTOS AND WERE IN THEIR EARLY 30'S AT THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEWS. THE SUBJECTS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THEIR SOCIAL FUNCTIONING, ALCOHOL USE, AND EVIDENCE OF SERIOUS ALCOHOL ABUSE (DELIRIUM TREMENS, LIVER DISEASE CONVULSIONS, BENDERS, SHAKES). THE SURVEY FOUND A HISTORY OF HEAVY DRINKING IN 62 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECTS AND EVIDENCE OF RECENT SERIOUS PROBLEMS SECONDARY TO TO ALCOHOL USE IN 17 PERCENT. ALCOHOL USE WAS POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS MEASURES OF SOCIAL DEVIANCE. SUBJECTS WITH SERIOUS ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, SUBJECTS WHO DRANK HEAVILY BUT WHO HAD NO ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, AND SUBJECTS WHO NEVER DRANK HEAVILY COMPRISED THREE GROUPS THAT DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY IN TERMS OF MARITAL AND FAMILY DIFFICULTIES, EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME PROBLEMS, AND ARRESTS. ABSENCE OF A FATHER IN THE CHILDHOOD HOME AND FAILURE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WERE PREDICTIVE OF HEAVY DRINKING AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THESE FACTORS WERE NOT ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE HISTORIES OF PERSONS EXPERIENCING SERIOUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH HEAVY DRINKING. THERE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER FAMILY AND EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS AND ARREST AMONG SUBJECTS WHOSE FATHERS HAD BEEN ABSENT AND WHO HAD NOT COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WHO HAD NEVER DRUNK HEAVILY. THE FINDINGS ARE SAID TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AS AN INTERVENING VARIABLE IN THE LIVES OF BLACK MALES BORN AND RAISED IN URBAN GHETTOS. TABULAR DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)