Limited attention to ethnicity in research on substance abuse and women has resulted in assumptions that may not fit the experience of women of color. This study employed a combined quantitative and qualitative design to investigate substance abuse in African American women ages 21 to 48. Life experiences of women with histories of chemical dependence were compared with women who were maintaining a nonabusing lifestyle. Variables examined were history of parental substance abuse and child abuse, exposure to racism and traumatic events, and social support and spirituality. The substance abusing and nonabusing women were distinguished from each other in the areas of spirituality and family connectedness. Although all participants reported high violence exposure and personal losses, significantly more substance abusing women reported being battered, experiencing homelessness, and more traumatic events. Participants described multiple experiences with racism, though their descriptions of their responses to these experiences suggested different styles of coping. Findings have significant implications for prevention of substance abuse, particularly in the areas of religious involvement, family support, and the development of active problem-solving strategies.
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