This exploratory research compared Black and White girls' racial preferences as exhibited through their media (music and television) and peer choices. The sample included 140 8- and 9-year-old Black and White girls of various socioeconomic levels. Findings suggested that both Black and White girls have more Black music preferences than White or no-race music preferences. Also, both Black and White girls made more White television program choices than Black or no-race choices. In their peer selections, all girls preferred same-race peers. Black mothers who engaged in racial socialization practices had girls who were more likely to prefer Black music and television to the other categories. Further, Black mothers who promoted more cultural distance and mothers who were poor had girls with more same-race peer preferences.

This article describes U.S. state policies related to alcohol use during pregnancy, using data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS). Specifically, this study examines trends in policies enacted by states over time and types of policies enacted across states in the U.S., with a focus on whether laws were supportive or punitive toward women. Findings revealed substantial variability in characteristics of policies (19 primarily supportive, 12 primarily punitive, 12 with a mixed approach, and 8 with no policies). Findings underscore the need to examine possible consequences of policies, especially of punitive policies and “mixed” approaches.

Injection and other drug use and high-risk sexual behaviors put criminal offenders at increased risk for HIV infection. Studies in other populations, especially females, have found that a history of sexual or physical victimization increases engagement in HIV-risk behaviors, and drug-involved offenders have high rates of such prior victimization. However, there has been little research among male offenders. In a sample of 247 male felony drug offenders in New York City, prior sexual victimization was related to a higher number of sex partners and lower proportion of protected sex acts in the 30 days before arrest. Prior physical abuse was related to cocaine injection, but not heroin injection or high-risk sex behaviors. These results suggest a complex relationship between sexual and physical abuse and HIV risk among male offenders. Assessing for specific prior abuse histories of offenders and providing targeted interventions may be useful for developing more effective primary and secondary HIV prevention services for this high-risk population.

Among 280 felony drug sale offenders with substance use disorders, self-reported psychiatric treatment, medication, and symptoms yielded estimates that 40% to 60% had comorbid psychiatric disorders. Two thirds reported recent psychiatric symptoms or emotional problems, or were troubled by these symptoms/problems, and more than one third of them felt they needed psychiatric treatment; only 4 were currently receiving treatment. More than two thirds of those reporting current symptomatology and a need for mental health treatment had never received treatment. Offenders who reported a need for treatment were more likely to recently experience cognitive difficulties, mental or emotional problems, or be troubled by psychiatric symptoms. Those reporting current treatment need were more likely to have a history of outpatient psychiatric treatment. The strongest predictor for self-reported psychiatric treatment need was being troubled by psychiatric symptoms, independently or in combination with recent cognitive difficulties, experiencing any emotional problems recently, or outpatient treatment history.

No abstract