The American Journal on Addictions, Vol. 15, 58-66. The authors employed three formats of intervention (individual, group, and website) on youth in four schools over a four-year window of time. The results of this survey (which involved "Project Options") of 1,147 students is that minority teens who willingly sought alcohol services preferred to receive interventions in a private context rather than in group therapy.

Gil, Andres G., Wagner, Eric F., and Tubman, Jonathan G. (2004). Culturally sensitive substance abuse intervention for Hispanic and African-American adolescents: empirical examples from the Alcohol Treatment Targeting Adolescents in Need (ATTAIN) Project. Addiction,

2(99), 140-150.

This article offers a strategy that (in this case) significantly reduced use of marijuana and alcohol in all ethnic groups involved in the project. Some 213 juvenile offenders participated in this research; instituting interventions that were "culturally sensitive" was the key to success.

Hermann, Jack, Kasim, Rafa, Sale, Elizabeth, Sambrano, Soledad, and Springer, J. Fred. (2005).

Understanding prevention effectiveness in real-world settings: The National Cross-Site

Evaluation of high risk youth programs. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse,

31(3), 491-511.

The authors point to a "National Cross-Site Evaluation" of 48 substance abuse prevention programs (involving 5,934 youth) that have been evaluated in self-report questionnaires. The only programs that "significantly reduced" substance use were those in which the youths had a "strong opportunity to participate in prevention programs and those that incorporated a minimum of 4 out of 5 of previously proven "intervention characteristics."

(2008).
Examining Anger as a Predictor of Drug Use Among Multiethnic Middle School Students.

Journal of School Health, 78(9), 480-486.

Anger in high school students is linked to increased drug use; a program of drug and violence preventative intervention (with 2,025 students) showed anger management should be part of any strategy to reduce the abuse of alcohol and drugs by students.

Schinke, Steven, Schwinn, Traci, and Cole, Kristin. (2006). Preventing Alcohol Abuse Among

Early Adolescents Through Family and Computer-Based Interventions: Four-Year

Outcomes and Mediating Variables. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities,

18(2), 149-160.

Preventing the use of alcohol for youths has proven, positive results, the authors explain. Since poor minority youths whose families have no rules against drinking are at a far greater risk for abuse. But positive parental influence, put in place by programs teaching parents to praise and monitor youths, and to have meals together with their children, can be effective.

Sharma, Manoj. (2008). Substance Abuse in Minorities. Journal of Alcohol & Drug Education.

52(3), 3-8.

Sharma reports that prevention programs need to take into account psychosocial and social aspects of youth substance abuse; hence, preventative interventions that are culturally "centric" and culturally "specific" are vital and far more likely to be successful.

Von Wormer, Katherine, and McKinney, Robin. (2003). What Schools Can do To Help Gay/

Lesbian/Bisexual Youth: A Harm Reduction Approach. Adolescence, 38(151), 409-420.

Von Wormer asserts through this article that because adjusting to heterosexual environment in public schools -- and dealing with the bias that often is in evidence -- is difficult, it is a "major cause of psychological problems" which leads these minorities to alcohol and drug abuse issues.