Abstract
America has been seen as a place where people from distinct ethnic and cultural groups are synthesized into one composite American culture that both includes and reflects the values, norms and mores of everyone. However, the evolution of a consensus model of ethnic and cultural fusion has failed to materialize; with many groups tenaciously adhering to their value, belief, and behavior systems of origin. Because of the degree of tenacity to which these differences have been retained, it is imperative that sufficient effort be exerted toward a clarification and an appreciation of the function of race, ethnicity, and culture in problem occurrence, prevention, and treatment. However, this clarification has not proven itself to be an easy task. Too often, the concepts of race, culture, and ethnicity are not treated as distinct in the literature, which can be confusing and problematic in determining the most appropriate methodological and analytical approach to the research. This article will discuss some of the etiological and methodological issues associated with planning, conducting, and the dissemination of family-based, drug abuse prevention programs with ethnic minorities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Azibo, D. A. (1992). Understanding the proper and improper usage of the comparative research paradigm. In A. K. Burlew, W. C. Banks, H. P. McAdoo, & D. A. Azibo (Eds.), African American psychology: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 130–164). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Banks, W. C. (1976). White preference in Blacks:Aparadigm in search of a phenomenon. Psychological Bulletin, 83, 1179–1186.
Beatty, L. A. (1994). Issues in drug abuse prevention intervention research with African Americans. In A. Cazares & L. Beatty (Eds.), Scientific methods for prevention intervention research (National Institute on Drug Abuse Publication No. 94–3631, pp. 171-202). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
Billingsley, A. (1992). Climbing Jacob's ladder: The enduring legacy of African-American families. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Boyd-Franklin, N. (1989). Black families in therapy: A multi-systems approach. New York: Guilford.
Boyd-Franklin, N. (1990). Five key factors in the treatment of black families. In G. W. Saba, B. M. Karrer, & K. V. Hardy (Eds.), Minorities and family therapy (pp. 53–69). New York: Haworth.
Brook, J. S. (1993). Interactional theory: Its utility in explaining drug use behavior among African-American and Puerto Rican youth. In M. R. De La Rosa & J. R. Recio-Adrados (Eds.), Drug abuse among minority youth: Advances in research and methodology. (National Institute on Drug Abuse Publication No. 93–3479, pp. 79-101). Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.
Caetano, R. (1989). Concepts of alcoholism among whites, Blacks, and Hispanics in the United States. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 50, 580–582.
Castro, F. G., Harmon, M. P., Coe, K., & Tafoya-Barraza, H. M. (1994). Drug prevention research with Hispanic populations: Theoretical and methodological issues and a generic structural model. In A. Cazares & L. Beatty (Eds.), Scientific methods for prevention intervention research. (National Institute on Drug Abuse Publication No. 94–3631, pp. 203-234). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Cazares, A., & Beatty, L. (Eds.) (1994). Scientific methods for prevention intervention research (National Institute on Drug Abuse Publication No. 94–3631). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (1993). Signs of effectiveness in preventing alcohol and other drug problems (Contract No. ADM-SA–88-005).
Cervantes, R. C. (1993). The Hispanic family intervention program: An empirical approach to substance abuse prevention. In R. S. Mayers, B. L. Kail, & T. D. Watts (Eds.)., Hispanic substance abuse (pp. 157–173). Springfield, Ill: Charles C. Thomas.
Chao, C. M. (1992). The inner heart: Therapy with southeast Asian families. In L. A. Vargas & J. D. Chioino (Eds.), Working with culture: Psychotherapeutic interventions with ethnic minority children and adolescents (pp. 157–181). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Cheung, Y.W. (1991a). Ethnicity and alcohol and drug use revisited: A framework for future research. International Journal of Addictions, 25, 581–605.
Cheung, Y. W. (1991b). Overview: Sharpening the focus on ethnicity. International Journal of Addictions, 25, 579–579.
Delgado, M., & Rodriguez-Andrew, S. (1990). OSAP Technical Report-4: Alcohol and other drug use among Hispanic youth (DHHS Publication No. ADM 90–1726). Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.
Dilworth-Anderson, P., Burton, L., & Turner, W. L. (1993). The importance of values in the study of culturally diverse families. Family Relations, 43, 243–248.
Edelman, M. W. (1989). Black children in America. In J. Dewart (Ed.), The State of Black America 1989 (pp. 23–43). New York: The Urban League.
Edwards, D., & Edwards, M.E. (1990). American Indian adolescents: Combating problems of substance use and abuse through a community model. In A. R. Stiffman & L. E. Davis (Eds.), Ethnic issues in adolescent mental health (pp. 285–302). Newbury park, CA: Sage Publications.
Fleming, C. (1992). American Indians and Alaska natives: Changing societies past and present. In M. A. Orlandi (Ed.), OSAP Cultural competence series I: Cultural competence for evaluators: A guide for alcohol and other drug abuse prevention practioners working working with ethnic/racial communities (DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 92–1884, pp. 203-260). Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.
Gary, L. E., & Berry, G. L. (1986). Predicting attitudes toward substance use in a Black community: Implications for prevention. Community Mental Health Journal, 21, 42–51.
Harper, F. D. (1986). The Black family and substance abuse. Detroit: Detroit Urban League.
Harper, F. D. (1988). Alcohol and Black youth: An overview. Journal of Drug Issues, 18, 7–14.
Harper, F. D. (1991). Substance abuse and the Black American family. Urban Research Review, 13, 1–5.
Hawkins, J. D., Catalano, R. F., & Miller, J. Y. (1992). Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 64–105.
Heath, D. B. (1991). Uses and misuses of the concept of ethnicity in alcohol studies: An essay in deconstruction. International Journal of Addictions, 25, 607–628.
Heiss, G. (1997). Values regarding marriage and the family from a woman's perspective. In H. P. McAdoo (Ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 284–300). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hill, R. B. (1997). Social welfare policies and African American families. In H. P. McAdoo (Ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 349–363). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hines, P. M., & Boyd-Franklin, N. (1996). African American families. In M. McGoldrick, J. Giordano, J, & J. Pearce (Eds.), Ethnicity and family therapy (pp. 66–84). New York: Guilford.
Ho, M. K. (1992). Differential application of treatment modalities with Asian American youth. In L. A. Vargas & J. D. Koss-Chioino (Eds.), Working with culture: Psychotherapeutic interventions with ethnic minority children and adolescents (pp. 182–203). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Institute on Black Chemical Abuse. (1991). Drugs: Another form of slavery to survive, an interview with Sala Udin. Minneapolis: I.B.C.A. Scope.
Jackson, J. S., McCullough, W. R., & Gurin, G. (1997). Family, socialization environment, and identity development in Black Americans. In H. P. McAdoo (Ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 251–266). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Jaynes, G. D., & Williams, R. M. (1989). A common destiny: Blacks and American society. Washington, DC: The National Academy of Sciences.
Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. L. (1977). Problem behavior and psychological development: A longitudinal study of youth. New York: Academic Press.
John, S., Brown, L. S., & Primm, B. J. (1997). African Americans: Epidemiologic, prevention, and treatment issues. In J. H. Lowinson, P. Ruiz, R. B. Millman, & J. G. Langrod (Eds.), Substance abuse: A comprehensive textbook (3rd ed.) (pp. 699–705). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Johnson, L. B. (1997). Three decades of Black family empirical research: Challenges for the 21st century. In H. P. McAdoo (ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 94–113). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Johnson, L., Pentz, M. A., Weber, M. D., Dwyer, J. H., Baer, N., MacKinnon, D. P., Hansen, W. B., & Flat, B. R. (1990). Relative effectiveness of comprehensive community programming for drug abuse prevention with high-risk and low-risk adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58, 447–456.
Kazdin, A. E. (1993). Adolescent mental health: Prevention and treatment programs. American Psychologist, 48, 127–140.
Kim, S., Mcleod, J. H., & Shantzis, C. (1992). Cultural competence for evaluators working with Asian American communities: Some practical considerations. In M. A. Orlandi (Ed.), OSAP Cultural competence series I: Cultural competence for evaluators: A guide for alcohol and other drug abuse prevention practioners working working with ethnic/racial communities (DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 92–1884 pp. 203-260). Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.
Kumpfer, K. L. (1991). How to get hard to reach parents involved in parenting programs. In D. Pines (Ed.), Parent training in prevention: Preventing alcohol and other drug problems among youth in the family. (DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 91–1715). Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.
Kumpfer, K. L. (1994). Implementation manual for the Strengthening Families Program. Salt Lake City, University of Utah.
Kumpfer, K. L., DeMarsh, J. P., & Child, W. (1989). Strengthening families program: Children's skill training curriculum manual. Social Research Institute, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Utah.
Kuramoto, F. H. (1994). Drug prevention research concerns in Asian and Pacific Islander populations. In A. Cazares & L. Beatty (Eds.), Scientific methods for prevention intervention research (National Institute on Drug Abuse Publication No. 94–3631, pp. 249-272). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Lee, E. (1990). Assessment and treatment of Chinese-American immigrant families. In G.W. Saba, B. M. Karrer, & K. V. Hardy (Eds.), Minorities and family therapy (pp. 53–69). New York: Haworth.
Lex, B. W. (1987). Review of alcohol problems in ethnic minority groups. Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 55, 293–300.
Lochman, J. E., & Wells, K. (1996). A social cognitive intervention with aggressive children: prevention effects and contextual implementation issues. In R. De V. Peters & R. J. McMahon (Eds.), Prevention of Childhood Disorders, Substance Abuse, and Delinquency. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Logan, S. L. (1996) (Ed.). The Black family: Strengths, self-help, positive change. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
May, P. A. (1992). The prevention of alcohol and other substance abuse among American Indians: A review and analysis of the literature. Paper presented at the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism. Working Group on Alcohol Prevention Research in Ethnic minority Communities, Washington, DC, May 18–19.
Maypole, D. E., & Anderson, R. B. (1987). Culture specific substance abuse prevention for Blacks. Community Mental Health Journal, 23, 135–139.
McAdoo, H. P. (1997). Upward mobility across generations in African American families. In H. P. McAdoo (ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 139–162). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
McGoldrick, M., & Giordano, J. (1996). Overview: Ethnicity and family therapy. In M. McGoldrick, J. Giordano, J., & J. Pearce (Eds.), Ethnicity and family therapy (pp. 1–30). New York: Guilford.
McGoldrick, M., Giordano, J., & Pearce, J. (1996). Ethnicity and family therapy. New York: Guilford.
McLoyd, V. C. (1991). What is the study of African American children the study of? The Conduct, publication, and changing nature of research on African American children. In R. L. Jones (Ed.), Black Psychology (pp. 167–179). Berkeley, CA: Cobb and Henry.
Miller G. A. (1999). Learning the language of addiction counseling. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Nobles, W. W. (1997). African American family life: An Instrument of culture. In H. P. McAdoo (ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 83–93). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Nobles, W.W., & Goddard, L. (1989). Drugs in the African American community: A clear and present danger. In J. Dewart (Ed.), The State of Black America 1989 (pp. 23–43). New York: The National Urban League.
Nobles, W. W., Goddard, L., Cavil, W. E., & George, P. Y. (1987). In the culture of drugs in the Black community. Oakland, CA: Black Family Institute.
Oetting, E. R., Beauvais, F., & Edwards, R. W. (1988). Alcohol and Indian youth: Social and psychological correlates of prevention. Journal of Drug Issues, 81, 87–101.
Oyemade, U., & Washington, V. (1990). The role of family factors in the primary prevention of substance abuse among high risk Black youth. In A. R. Stiffman & L. E. Davis (Eds.), Ethnic issues in adolescent mental health (pp. 267–284). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Oyemade, U. J., & Rosser, P. L. (1980). Development in Black Children. Advances in Behavioral Pediatrics, 1, 153–179.
Pinderhughes, E. (1989). Understanding race, ethnicity, and power. New York: Free Press.
Ponterotto, J. G. (1988). Racial/ethnic minority research in the Journal of Counseling Psychology: A content analysis and methodological critique. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 35, 410–418.
Randolph, S. M., & Banks, H. D. (1993). Making a way out of no way: The promise of Africentric approaches to HIV prevention. Journal of Black Psychology, 19, 204–214.
Rivers, R. M., & Scanzoni, J. (1997). Social families among African Americans. In H. P. McAdoo (Ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 333–348). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sage, G. P. (1994). Drug prevention research with native American populations: Some considerations. In A. Cazares & L. Beatty (Eds.), Scientific methods for prevention intervention research (National Institute on Drug Abuse Publication No. 94–3631, pp. 235-248). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Santisteban, D. A., Szapocznik, J., & Rio, A. T. (1993). Family therapy for Hispanic substance abusing youth: An empirical approach to substance abuse prevention. In R. S. Mayers, B. L. Kail, & T. D. Watts (Eds.), Hispanic substance abuse (pp. 157–173). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Smith, H. Y. (1996). Building on the strengths of Black families: Self-help and empowerment. In S. L. Logan (Ed.). The Black family: Strengths, self-help, positive change. (pp. 21–38) Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Staples, R. (1997). An overview of race and marital status. In H. P. McAdoo (ed.), Black families (3rd ed.) (pp. 269–272). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Szapocznik, J., Kurtines, W. M., Sanisteban, D. A., & Rio, A. (1989). Breakthroughs in family therapy with drug-abusing and problem youth. New York: Springer.
Szapocznik, J., Sanisteban, D. A., Rio, A., Perez-Vidal, A., Kurtines, W. M., & Hervis, O. (1986). Bicultural effectiveness training (BET): An intervention modality for families experiencing intergenerational/ intercultural conflict. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 6, 303–330.
Tharp, R. G. (1991). Cultural diversity and treatment of children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 799–812.
Thomas, S. B., & Quinn, S. C. (1991). The Tuskegee syphilis study, 1932–1972: Implications for HIV education and AIDS risk reduction programs in the Black community. American Journal of Public Health, 81(11), 1498-1505.
Tucker, M. B. (1985). U. S. ethnic minorities and drug abuse: An assessment of the science and practice. International Journal of Addictions, 20, 1021–1047.
Turner, W. L. (in press). Family and school-based drug abuse prevention. Family Relations.
Turner, W. L. (1995). Healthy Black families: Protectors against substance abuse. Employee Assistance Journal, 8, 30–31.
Turner, W. L., & Alston, R. J. (1995). The role of the family in psychosocial adaptation to physical disabilities for African Americans. Journal of the National Medical Association, 86, 915–921.
Wilson, W. J. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago.
Wilson, W. J. (1996). When work disappears: The world of the new urban poor. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Wright, R., & Watts, T. D. (1988). Alcohol and minority youth. Journal of Drug issues, 18, 1–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Turner, W.L. Cultural Considerations in Family-Based Primary Prevention Programs in Drug Abuse. The Journal of Primary Prevention 21, 285–303 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007091405097
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007091405097