Work

Cannabis and Other Substance Use, Experiences of Ethnoracial Discrimination, and Psychotic-Like Experiences

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Cannabis use has been linked to increased positive psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and found to act additively with stressful/traumatic events to increase risk for psychosis. Emerging evidence suggests that experiencing ethnoracial discrimination is a chronic stressor associated with increased substance use and positive PLEs. We hypothesized that ethnoracial discrimination would be associated with increased positive PLEs through the indirect effect of increased cannabis use. STUDY DESIGN: Community individuals (n = 7,429) aged 16-30 ascertained from the Multi-site Assessment of Psychosis-risk (MAP) study completed self-report assessments of ethnoracial discrimination, cannabis and substance use, and positive PLEs. Statistical analyses using an indirect effects framework examined direct effects from ethnoracial discrimination to specific positive PLEs (non-persecutory ideation, persecution ideation, and perceptual abnormalities), and indirect effects through cannabis use. To test the specificity of cannabis, supplementary analyses examined indirect effects through other substance. STUDY RESULTS: Across Asian, Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White participants, significant direct effects were found from ethnoracial discrimination to each positive PLE (all p < 0.01). Significant indirect effects were found through cannabis use and through other substance use among Asian, Black, and Hispanic individuals, and via other substance use in non-Hispanic White individuals (all 95% CIs excluded zero). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that any substance use, including but not limited to cannabis use, may be a common pathway by which exposure to stressful experiences of ethnoracial discrimination may contribute to increased positive PLEs. Findings have implications for targeting substance use in individuals who may be at increased risk for psychotic experiences and who have experienced ethnoracial discrimination.

Source: Schizophrenia Bulletin

DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaf183

Authors: Zeeshan M Huque, Thomas M Olino, Jason Schiffman, Vijay A Mittal, Lauren M Ellman

Institutions: Temple University, University of California, Irvine, Northwestern University

Language: English

Topic: Racial and Ethnic Identity Research

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health