Ethnic identity, defined variously as self-identification with one’s ethnic group; the sense of belonging and attachment to such a group; the perceptions, behaviors, and feelings one has due to such membership; and involvement in the cultural and social practices of the group (Phinney & Kohatsu, 1997), has been associated with lower levels of substance use (Brook & Pahl, 2005; Szapocznik, Prado, Burlew, Williams, & Santisteban, 2007). Amongst African Americans, studies have consistently shown that those who strongly identify with African American culture are less likely to consume alcohol (Brook, Brook, & Pahl, 2006; Burlew, Neely, & Johnson, 2000; Caldwell, Sellers, Bernat, & Zimmerman, 2004; Herd & Grube, 1996; Klonoff & Landrine, 1999; Martin, Tuch, Roman, & Dixon, 2004; Nasim, Belgrave, Jaqgers, Wilson, & Owens, 2007) and more likely to hold conservative views toward drug use (Belgrave, Brome, & Hampton, 2000; Belgrave, Cherry, Cunningham, Letlaka-Rennert, & Phillips, 1994; Burlew, Neely, & Johnson, 2000; Klonoff & Landrine, 1999; Townsend & Belgrave, 2000). Moreover, African Americans who are more immersed in African American culture (Klonoff & Landrine, 1999), have a strong preference for African American people, and a strong connection to their families (Herd & Grube, 1996) are more likely to be abstainers.
