Adverse Childhood Experiences, Discrimination, Nativity, and Associations with Tobacco and Cannabis Use Among Black Young Adults in the U.S

Bibliographic Data

ID21646417
AuthorsWura Jacobs (0000-0002-4293-5635, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, corresponding author), Weisiyu Abraham Qin (0009-0003-9176-9375, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health), P Baiden (0000-0003-3877-2594, The University of Texas at Arlington), Ann Amuta-Jimenez (0000-0002-1944-1792, The University of Texas at Arlington), Tamika C B Zapolski (0000-0003-0675-560X, Indiana University School of Medicine)
Year2026
Volume61
Issue2
Pages227-236
Publication date2026-01-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2025.2549786
PMID40898011
OpenAlexW4413937821
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited71

OBJECTIVE: Adverse experiences during childhood (ACEs) and other adversities, such as experiences of discrimination are important risk factors for substance use, particularly among Black individuals in the United States (U.S.). Given the ethnic diversity of Black people in the U.S., it is important to examine how nativity influences the impact of these stressors on substance use risk. METHODS: Participants were 484 Black young adults (YA) recruited through opt-in panels and online platforms. Nativity differences in the association between ACEs, everyday discrimination, and count of tobacco/nicotine and cannabis products used were examined with descriptive statistics, zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB), and logistic regression models. RESULTS: < 0.05) in education, ACEs, everyday discrimination and lifetime count of tobacco/nicotine and cannabis product types used. Each additional ACE and experience of everyday discrimination was associated with higher lifetime tobacco/nicotine product count by 5% (IRR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09) and 2% (IRR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04), respectively. ACEs were associated with lower odds of abstaining from tobacco/nicotine and cannabis products in the lifetime (aOR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.76-0.99 and aOR = 0.83 95% CI 0.73-0.95, respectively) and higher odds of co-occurring product exposure (aOR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.31). Foreign-born YA had 40% lower cannabis product count (IRR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.41-0.88) relative to U.S.-born YA. CONCLUSION: Findings emphasize the role of early life (ACEs) and societal stressors (everyday discrimination) on tobacco/nicotine and cannabis product count (i.e., exposure) among U.S.- and foreign-born Black YA

Adverse Childhood Experiences · Cannabis · Marijuana smoking · Mental health · Polysubstance dependence · Psychiatry · Substance use · Young adult · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes · Gerontology