African american Quote by Karl Alexander
““counterparts. Although the lower-SES average is higher overall, higher-SES white men have the highest reported levels of binge drinking, of any drug use, and of drug use other than marijuana, followed in each instance by lower-SES white men. In fact, within SES levels, white averages exceed the African American: 3.8 versus 2.9 for those of lower-SES origins; 3.0 versus 1.6 for those of higher origins. This pattern hardly squares with the popular perception of lower-SES African Americans as the face of urban disadvantage, fueled by the media's racialized portrayal of inner-city drug abuse, dealing, and violence (see, for example, Alexander 2010). The””
About This Quote
Source Article: "Substance Use and Socioeconomic Status" by Karl Alexander, 2018
The data show that higher‑SES white men report the most binge drinking and drug use, contradicting stereotypes that associate drug problems mainly with lower‑SES African Americans.
In simple terms: Higher‑SES white men drink and use drugs more than lower‑SES African Americans.
Key Takeaway
Challenge assumptions about drug use and SES.
Themes
stereotypes
public health
socioeconomic status
race
substance use
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
research
informative
When to use this quote
- policy making
- public health campaigns
- community outreach
- media analysis
Key Concepts
social inequality
media framing
health disparities
Questions to Reflect On
- How do media narratives shape our view of drug problems?
- What policies could address substance use across all SES groups?
A Different Perspective
Stereotypes may persist despite contradictory evidence, limiting effective interventions.
![“With drug use related harms, explanatory models are often presented as predictive tools, even though they ‘are [rarely if ever] predictive of consequent behavior’ or outcomes. Hence, we feel confident in asserting at outset, that prohibition based approaches in drug policy lack a sound basis in…” quote by Daniel Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7b/daniel-waterman-25499_belief_with-drug-use-related-harms-explanatory_303076.jpg)
