There is evidence that family composition can play an important role in alcohol initiation and use among adolescents. Donovan (2004) reported that adolescents are at a greater risk of alcohol initiation if they are living with stepparents versus intact families, if their immediate family members use substances, if they perceive parental approval or less parental disapproval of teen drinking, if they perceive lower levels of parental support, or if they perceive greater levels of parental alcohol and drug use. Specifically, Bossarte and Swahn (2008) found that adolescents who live in households with less parental supervision are more likely to engage in deviant behaviors and use substances. Likewise, greater parental monitoring is associated with decreased substance use among African American youth (Rai et al., 2003; Stanton et al., 2002; Tebes et al., 2011; Wallace & Muroff, 2002). Moreover, among adolescents who drink heavily, African American youth are significantly more likely than their European American peers to be concerned about their parents’ disapproval of their drinking alcohol (Ringwalt & Palmer, 1990). It is thought that due to the higher level of constraints
