Alcohol trajectories among biracial black subgroups: Testing the intermediate substance use hypothesis

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• The intermediate biracial substance use hypothesis posits that substance use among biracial individuals falls between that of their monoracial counterparts.
• Understanding substance use patterns in biracial populations is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the intermediate biracial substance use hypothesis using alcohol use trajectories.
• To compare alcohol use patterns of biracial Black youth with their monoracial counterparts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health).
• Analyzed a de-aggregated sample of 9,421 adolescents and young adults identifying as monoracial (Black, White, Hispanic, American Indian) or biracial Black (Black-American Indian, Black-Hispanic, Black-White).
• Employed latent growth curve modeling to assess first use, number of drinks, and binge drinking.

Main Results:

• Found partial support for the intermediate substance use hypothesis.
• Alcohol use rates among biracial Black individuals more closely resembled their non-Black counterparts than monoracial Black individuals.
• Biracial Black-American Indian youth exhibited a particularly high risk for problematic drinking.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight the complexity of substance use among biracial populations.
• Emphasizes the need for further research into the onset and maintenance of alcohol use and misuse in biracial subgroups.
• Suggests that interventions may need to be tailored to specific biracial identities.