Abstract
Drug use and related disorders are highly associated with race/ethnicity, with rates varying by drug type and race/ethnic group. Substance use is widespread among adolescents of whites, American Indians/Alaska Natives, African Americans, and Hispanics. Data show that drug‐related deaths vary by race/ethnicity and gender. Men are twice as likely to die of a drug overdose as women, while non‐Hispanic whites account for 82% of all drug‐induced deaths. However, currently American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest rates of drug‐related mortality at 17.1 per 100,000 population compared to 16.6 among non‐Hispanic whites. This reflects a change from the 1980s and 1990s when non‐Hispanic blacks and whites had higher drug‐related mortality rates. Research has documented that sexual minority students have a higher prevalence of drug use than their heterosexual counterparts. Research should continue to unpack the contexts that give rise to higher drug use among sexual minorities.