Resumen de Perceived Discrimination and DSM-IV-Based Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use Disorders.

Haslyn E. R. Hunte, Adam E. Barry

• 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]