Date of Conferral

7-9-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Social Work

Advisor

Jeffrey Harlow

Abstract

Alcohol misuse among young adults leads to legal, social, and behavioral consequences in the United States. The justice system unequally impacts young African American males. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand perceptions of legal risks of alcohol misuse among African American young adult males who were formerly adjudicated or nonadjudicated. The research question involved African American young adult males and legal risks associated with misuse of alcohol. The differential association theory guided this study in terms of its emphasis on decision-making and learned social behaviors. Data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight African American young adult males from the southern United States who experienced legal risks after alcohol misuse. Data were transcribed from phone recordings, and patterns and codes were identified from transcriptions. Four themes emerged from interviews: lack of control with alcohol, short-term consequences, long-term consequences, and lessons. Findings from this study confirmed that participants perceived alcohol misuse as influencing their decision-making, behaviors, and involvement in alcohol-related legal consequences. Implications for positive social change include increasing awareness of alcohol-related legal risks and supporting the development of prevention, intervention, and community-based education programs that promote healthier decision-making and address the social influences associated with alcohol misuse among African American young adult males.

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