Perceived discrimination and DSM-IV-based alcohol and illicit drug use disorders.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the relationship between everyday and major discrimination and alcohol and drug use disorders in a nationally representative sample of African Americans and Black Caribbeans.


METHODS
With data from the National Survey of American Life Study, we employed multivariable logistic regression analyses--while controlling for potential confounders--to examine the relationship between everyday and major discrimination and substance use disorders on the basis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria.


RESULTS
Every 1 unit increase in the everyday discrimination scale positively predicted alcohol (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02; P < .01) and drug use (OR = 1.02; P < .05) disorders. Similarly, each additional major discrimination event positively predicted alcohol (OR = 1.10; P < .05) and drug use (OR = 1.15; P < .01) disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine problematic usage patterns rather than infrequent use of alcohol and drugs in a national sample of African American and Black Caribbean adults and the first to examine this particular relationship in a national sample of Black Caribbeans.
Department of Health and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Services, and the Center for Poverty and Health Inequity, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. hhunte@purdue.edu
Haslyn E R
HE
Hunte
Adam E
AE
Barry
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States