Introduction In recent years, adolescents of color report greater use of selected substances than white adolescents, including alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. Increased levels of discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic may have added to the chronic burden associated with increased substance use among adolescents of color. This study assessed the prevalence of substance use (alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) and intentions to use among adolescents by race/ethnicity and assessed associations between discrimination and substance use outcomes across groups.

Methods The data come from the national panel of 11,868 adolescents in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (baseline through 4th follow-up). We tested the prevalence rates of substance use and intentions by race/ethnicity. Multivariable longitudinal analyses tested whether 1) discrimination was connected to substance use and intentions, and 2) whether that relationship differed by race/ethnicity.

Results White adolescents reported the greatest use and curiosity about alcohol. Black adolescents reported the highest rates of being willing to try any of the substances. Hispanic adolescents reported the highest rates of cannabis use. Multiracial adolescents reported the highest rates of tobacco use, curiosity about tobacco, and curiosity about cannabis. Discrimination was found to be associated with greater substance use among all racial/ethnic groups, except Black adolescents for alcohol use and Asian adolescents for alcohol use and tobacco use.

Conclusion This study supports national trends about substance use disparities among adolescents of color. Findings from this study also show that discrimination may explain some of these increased trends through intentions to use substances.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This work was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (K08MD015289), National Cancer Institute (R01CA270546), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA031160; K23DA051561). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Cancer Institute, or the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The study used (or will use) ONLY openly available human data that were originally located at: https://nda.nih.gov/general-query.html?q=query=featured-datasets:Adolescent%20Brain%20Cognitive%20Development%20Study%20(ABCD)

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Yes