The National Institute on Mental Health attempted to address the issue of providing a reliable baseline on alcohol-related problems among adolescents with the Adolescent Assessment Referral System (AARS). Part of this tool is the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument (POSIT), a 139-item questionnaire printed in English and Spanish. This questionnaire was administered to three cultural groups in New Mexico schools: (1) 80 Navajo youths; (2) 100 Mexican-American adolescents; and (3) 109 Anglo American adolescents. Data from the POSIT for these groups were compared with cutting scores generated by the AARS. Navajo males have the highest scores for substance use and abuse, followed by Navajo females. Female Mexican Americans have the lowest score on this item. Only female Anglo teens approached the prescribed cutting score for physical health status. The mental health status item reflected pathology among all racial and ethnic groups, with Navajo females registering the highest scores. The educational status indicator suggested a problem for the Navajo (males and females), Anglo males, and Mexican-American males. Seven tables present study findings. (Contains 5 references.) (SLD)