Racism and cannabis-related problems among Black adults who smoke cigarettes: The role of negative emotions in responses to experiencing racism.

Abstract

Black Americans who use cannabis appear at greater risk for negative cannabis-related outcomes, and cannabis use is more common among individuals who smoke cigarettes. Race-based health disparities concerning cannabis outcomes indicate a need to identify psycho-socio-cultural factors that may play a role in cannabis use and related problems among Black Americans to inform prevention and treatment efforts. Minority stress-based models posit that stressors such as racism increase negative emotions, which may be associated with using substances such as cannabis to cope with negative emotions. Yet, no known research has directly assessed whether negative emotions experienced in response to racism play a role in cannabis-related behaviors. Participants were 254 (50.2% female) Black Americans who endorsed current cigarette smoking and were aged 18-73 (M = 42.1, SD = 14.1). Participants completed an online survey regarding their experiences with racism, smoking, and cannabis-related behaviors. Negative emotions in response to racism were assessed via the Racial Trauma Scale (RTS). Experiencing more frequent racism was related to greater RTS and cannabis-related problems. When entered simultaneously, frequency of racism was related to more cannabis-related problems via RTS, but not anxiety or depression broadly. Racism was related to more cannabis problems via the sequential effects of RTS and a greater quantity of cannabis used. These data indicate that the experience of negative emotions that occur after experiencing racism may play an important role in cannabis misuse among Black Americans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).