Perceived discrimination and DSM-IV-based alcohol and illicit drug use disorders.
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OBJECTIVES: 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.