Perceived discrimination in high school predicted marijuana use trajectories spanning into emerging adulthood | Research

The takeaway

In 1,457 Hispanic youth followed over 11 years, perceived discrimination during high school predicted both initiating and continuing marijuana use through emerging adulthood.

Adolescent health researchers, substance use prevention program developers, and health equity advocates.

11-year follow-up: HS discrimination predicted marijuana initiation (RRR 1.46)

What the researchers found

Among 1,457 Hispanic youth in Southern California followed from 2006-2017, perceived discrimination in high school significantly predicted marijuana use initiation that was discontinued (RRR 1.464) and marijuana use that continued into emerging adulthood (RRR 1.249), compared to never using. For late-onset marijuana use (starting in emerging adulthood), high school discrimination was not a significant predictor, unlike for cigarette smoking.

Why it matters

This is one of the longest longitudinal studies linking adolescent discrimination experiences to substance use trajectories in Hispanic youth. The finding that discrimination predicted marijuana initiation but not late-onset use suggests adolescence is the critical vulnerability window.

The numbers in context

1,457 youth; 11-year follow-up (2006-2017); HS discrimination predicted initiation+discontinuation RRR 1.464; initiation+continuation RRR 1.249; not significant for late-onset marijuana use.

How the study worked

Longitudinal cohort study with 11 years of follow-up (2006-2017) including 3 high school and 5 emerging adulthood data collection waves, using multinomial logistic regression controlling for gender, SES, acculturation, and emerging adulthood discrimination.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-report measures; Southern California Hispanic youth may not represent other populations; marijuana use initiation could predate reported discrimination; cannot distinguish medical from recreational use; acculturation measure may not capture all cultural factors.

How to read the evidence

Strong: large longitudinal design spanning 11 years with appropriate controls and multiple assessment waves.

When this study was published

Published 2020.

The bigger picture

Discrimination is a modifiable social determinant of health. If adolescent discrimination experiences drive marijuana use initiation in Hispanic youth, then anti-discrimination programs and coping skills training during high school could serve as indirect substance use prevention.

Questions still open

Would school-based anti-discrimination programs reduce marijuana initiation? Does discrimination-related marijuana use carry different health risks than recreational use?

Common questions

Does discrimination lead to marijuana use?

In this 11-year study of Hispanic youth, perceived discrimination during high school predicted initiating marijuana use. Those who experienced more discrimination were 46% more likely to start using marijuana (even if they later stopped) and 25% more likely to continue using into adulthood.

Is this specific to Hispanic youth?

This study focused on Hispanic youth in Southern California, so results may not generalize to other groups. However, the finding that social stressors drive substance use initiation is consistent with broader research across populations.

Read the original research

The role of perceived discrimination in substance use trajectories in Hispanic young adults: A longitudinal cohort study from high school through emerging adulthood.

Addictive behaviors, 103, 106253

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Rogers, Christopher J; Forster, Myriam; Vetrone, Steven; Unger, Jennifer B. (2020). The role of perceived discrimination in substance use trajectories in Hispanic young adults: A longitudinal cohort study from high school through emerging adulthood.. Addictive behaviors, 103, 106253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106253