Alcohol Use among Hispanic Adolescents: A Preliminary Report

This study reports on the use of alcohol by a group of Hispanic seventhand eighth-grade junior high school students in the city of Los Angeles. The randomly selected sample included 54 males and 53 females, ranging in age from 13 to 16. Subjects responded to a self-administered questionnaire concerning demographic issues, social characteristics, and family composition as well as alcohol consumption, school performance, and a number of other behaviors. Findings of the study suggest definite patterns to alcohol consumption, sex-based differentials, and strong links between the use of alcohol and marijuana among Hispanic adolescents.