Perceived high levels of discrimination are associated with an increased risk of substance use and mood disorders among African American and Caribbean black adults,Trenette T. Clark, Ph.D., and associates report.

In a cross-sectional study of 4,462 respondents, Dr. Clark and associates found that adults who reported experiencing “chronic discrimination” were four times more likely to have an alcohol use disorder or illicit drug use disorder than were those who experienced “low discrimination.”

Among adults in the chronic discrimination group, 7.3% had generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), 19.1% had major depressive disorder, 17.8% had alcohol abuse/dependence, and 13.7% had drug abuse/dependence. Those values were significantly higher compared with adults who experienced “general discrimination,” the group with the second highest level of discrimination, where 4.6% had GAD, 12.9% MDD, 9.9% alcohol abuse/dependence, and 6.9% had drug abuse/dependence.

A limitation of the study is that it was not possible “to make causal claims about the relationship between membership in subgroups and the development of mood and substance use disorders.” Furthermore, the investigators said, perceived discrimination interpreted as occurring in isolation does not increase the risk of substance abuse or mood disorders. However, it “seems that it is the ongoing experience of multiple types and frequencies of discrimination, including disrespect, condescension, hostile, and character-based discrimination, which places individuals at greater risk for mood and substance use disorders,” they concluded.

Find the full study at Addictive Behaviors (doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.08.006).

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