We examined the evidence for convergence and cross-over in the prevalence of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use between White and Black men and women sampled in adolescence from schools in the US as they age from adolescence to adulthood. Importantly, the present study attends rigorously to socio-economic differences, controlling for a range of economic indicators including material deprivation, geographic location, and supplementation with use of public assistance. We summarize the results for each substance. First, for alcohol use, we found little evidence of convergence or cross-over in prevalence of any outcome, though there is some evidence that heavy drinking is beginning to converge among adult males; further follow-up is necessary to determine whether these trends continue. Overall, however, among both men and women, Whites were more likely than Blacks to use any alcohol and engage in at-risk or heavy alcohol use, higher drinking quantity and frequency across time. The exception is that there is convergence (but not cross-over) over time in average drinks per drinking setting between White and Black female drinkers. Second, for cigarette use, there is robust evidence
