A multimethod examination of individual and environmental contributors to racial disparities in marijuana use

Project Summary Significance: Black relative to White young adults engage in heavier marijuana (MJ) use and are more likely to experience cannabis use disorder.

The reasons for these disparities, including the role of stress caused by racism, are poorly understood and in critical need of empirical study.

The proposed R01 examines the dynamic transactions between stressors, emotional reactivity, and MJ cognitions (craving, motives) within the laboratory and in the natural environment using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), to identify the processes that contribute to these health disparities. Aims: Aim 1 will examine racial differences in MJ cognitions, craving and motives, acute MJ effects, and MJ problems.

Aim 2 will test if emotional reactivity tightens the association between experiencing a stressor and MJ cognitions and if this process differs across race.

Aim 3 will examine prospective associations at the 6-month follow-up to examine the transactional nature of these processes.

Hypotheses: We hypothesize that Black relative to White MJ users will report higher MJ craving and coping motives, greater acute MJ effects (indexed by reductions in negative mood) and more MJ problems.

These differences will be partially driven by chronic and acute stressors, including institutional racism and discrimination events.

Additionally, the association between stress exposure and MJ cognitions will be stronger for participants with higher emotional reactivity and within-person on days with heightened emotional reactivity. The role of emotional reactivity in this process will be more pronounced for Black MJ users.

Black more than White MJ users will increase their MJ use at the 6-month follow-up and this increase will be partially driven by higher baseline MJ cognitions and acute MJ effects.

Increases in MJ use from baseline to 6-month follow-up will be associated with heightened emotional reactivity at 6-month follow-up.

In turn, heightened emotional reactivity will relate to tightened associations between acute stress exposure and MJ cognitions during the 6- month EMA.

Approach: Young adult MJ users (weekly+ MJ use freq.; N = 440; 18-25-years of age; 50% Black, 50% female; matched across race on past 30-day MJ use freq.) will be recruited from the community.

Participants will first complete a interview/questionnaires and a standardized stress task to assess emotional reactivity (subjective, physiological: HRV, HF-HRV) and craving.

Next, participants will complete a 17-day EMA protocol to record stress and discrimination events, emotional reactivity (subjective and physiological), MJ cognitions, MJ use/problems. A parallel lab and EMA follow-up assessment will be completed at 6- months.

This proposal is directly in line with NIDA?s strategic priorities on increasing health equity and NIDA?s focus on addressing real-world complexities that contribute to substance use problems.

The proposed research takes a critical step towards increasing understanding of why Black young adults are at greater risk for heavy MJ use and problems and can inform intervention efforts tailored to this under-studied, at-risk, population.