According to research by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, African Americans have lower drinking rates than other ethnicities. A survey by the group found that blacks ages 18 and older use alcohol at a rate of 44.3 percent compared with the national average of 55.2 percent
In addition, and more interestingly, blacks ages 18 to 25 are much less likely than other young adults to engage in binge drinking — 25.3 percent compared with 41.6 percent in the general population.
The survey is part of a series conducted by SAMHSA to learn how to target alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention efforts to various age, gender and ethnic groups.
Now for the bad news.
The survey also found that the rate of illegal drug use among black adults is higher than the national average — 9.5 percent compared with 7.9 percent. And among black males ages 26 to 49, illegal drug use is 14.7 percent compared with 11.2 percent in the general population for that age group.
And far worse, binge drinking is much higher in pregnant black women than among pregnant women in other age groups. Gasp.
Dodging one bullet only led to getting shot right between the eyes with two additional ones — with possibly more dire consequences. Jail time and addiction from illegal drug use, along with babies potentially being impacted by maternal drinking, paints a very disturbing picture. –gerald radford
