This study examined the longitudinal effects of five family factors (familism, parent derogation, parent-child communication, family alcohol problems, and family drug problems) on intensity of alcohol use among a sample of 451 African American and White non-Hispanic males from early to mid-adolescence (sixth through eighth grades). Results indicated that all of the family variables except family drug problems were statistically significant predictors of the level of alcohol use in mid-adolescence. Familism had a moderate influence on the dependent variable at both data points, while parent derogation, parent/child communication, and family alcohol problems were weaker predictors. Intensity of alcohol use in sixth grade, however, had the most influence on later levels of use. (Contains 4 tables.)