Drinking, alcoholism, and alcohol abuse are subjects that hold deep personal meaning for many people. Scholars in many disciplines including psychology, medicine, law, politics, sociology and social work, religion and literature have long been fascinated by the use and effects of alcohol. It remains a difficult area to study.

While alcohol abuse and alcoholism are recognized as significant and growing problems among the general population, the focus on these problems among black Americans is yet in the development stage. Dr. Frances Larry Brisbane has observed: "There is no such thing as 'black alcoholism,' however--there are black people with alcoholism." Nonetheless, despite lingering concern by some over the characteristics and needs of black Americans, less focused information has been published that is devoted to the unique problems of alcohol abuse and alcoholism within this population. Also, the problem is further compounded by the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. Information on black drinking, alcohol abuse and alcoholism is scattered throughout the literature of many disciplines, and in a variety of formats. Needless to say, searching this literature can be a very difficult and tedious task.

In response, Drs. Watts and Wright have developed in book form a bibliography that presents annotations of articles, books, and other published material concerned with various aspects of drinking, alcohol abuse and alcoholism among black people. The result is a book that brings together a substantial amount of literature on this group, a book that will serve as a reference for those who wish to learn more about this important subject. It should serve as a seminal resource for anyone wishing to pursue a scholarly examination of this topic.

Fulton Caldwell

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Rockville, Maryland . . .