Despite differential gender findings in the epidemiology of substance use, only a limited amount of research focuses on the differences in initiation into drug use and antecedent conditions. As part of the awareness of the need for mutual support among African American women, the National Black Women's Health Project, in conjunction with the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, developed a holistic prevention program for seven historically black colleges. The program is based on a holistic wellness perspective designed to prevent abuse, promote mutual support, and help students develop improved capacities for problem solving. The self self-help, self-care group provides a psychologically safe environment to develop life enhancing skills to maintain wellness and provide knowledge about access to treatment. Forty-eight female students were trained in the self-help model. Group sessions included topics on substance abuse; depression; abusive relationships; and healthy eating. Data indicated little or no use of substances among self-help participants. Data on knowledge of effects and harmfulness of alcohol use as it related to African American women yielded mixed results. Mixed results on knowledge items pointed to the need for more information on health issues that confront African American college age women. (Contains 15 references.) (JDM)