Alcohol and other drug disorders, comorbidity, and violence: comparison of rural African American and Caucasian women

Abstract

Tremendous health disparities exist across various segments of the United States population with rural women particularly at risk. African Americans have higher rates of death, disease, and disability than Caucasians. Although prevalence rates for alcohol and other drug use vary across studies, African American women generally report less use than Caucasians. However, African Americans disproportionately experience negative health and social consequence of AOD use. The findings of this study provide rare information about substance abuse in rural African American women. Specifically, this manuscript reports differences between rural African American and Caucasian women (n=267) on AOD use, comorbid Axis I disorders, and violence.