s Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use are major problems in the inner cities, especially for African American youth. Africentric values may be a protective factor for negative drug outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of Africentric values, spirituality, and demographic variables on drug knowledge, attitudes, and use.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an intervention on strengthening resiliency among African American preadolescent girls using a relational and Africentric focus. The hypotheses were that significant increases in Africentric values, ethnic identity, gender role beliefs, and self-concept would follow participation in the intervention. The target population was African American girls aged 10 to 12 years considered at risk based on socioeconomic context. Fifty-five girls were in the intervention group, and 92 girls were in the comparison group. Intervention participants met once a week for 2 hours for 4 months and engaged in exercises and activities designed to increase feelings of self-worth, Africentric values, and ethnic and gender identity. Findings from analyses of covariances indicated that intervention participants scored significantly higher on measures of Africentric values, ethnic identity, and physical appearance self-concept than comparison participants at posttest. The implications of the findings for prevention programs are discussed. AUTHORS' NOTE: This research was supported by a grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) (1HD1 SPO7199). This study reports the results from the first phase (Year 1) of a 2½-year longitudinal intervention. Data used in this study were collected from

The relevance of Africentric values and beliefs has been articulated by a number of African American scholars. Moreover, Africentric frameworks have been used in the design and implementation of substance abuse prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Africentric values along with self-esteem and Black identity on drug attitudes amongfifth graders. Measures of Africentric values, self-esteem, and Black identity were obtained from 54 African Americanfifth graders. A regression analysis indicated that Africentric values significantly explained drug attitudes. Self-esteem andiBlack identity were not significant contributors to explaining drug attitudes. Self-esteem and Black identity were significantly related to each other; self-esteem was negatively correlated with Africentric values. The findings of the study are discussed, including the implications for the inclusion of Africentric values when looking at drug attitudes and behaviors.

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Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use are major problems in the inner cities, especially for African American youth. Africentric values may be a protective factor for negative drug outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of Africentric values, spirituality, and demographic variables on drug knowledge, attitudes, and use. Participants were 189 4th‐ and 5th‐graders attending public schools in Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland. Measures of Africentric values (i.e., Collective Work/Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, and Self‐Determination), spirituality, age, and whether or not the child resided in a two‐ or one‐parent household were obtained. The results of regression analyses indicated that Collective Work/Responsibility and Cooperative Economics were significant predictors of attitudes toward drugs. Collective Work/Responsibility and spirituality were significant predictors of perceived drug harmfulness. Age and spirituality were significant predictors of drug usage. Age was the only significant predictor of drug knowledge. The Collective Work/Responsibility subscale was the strongest predictor of drug outcomes. The implications for using Africentric prevention approaches for decreasing risk factors and increasing protective factors for drug use among African American youth are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.