Perceived Unfair Police Treatment and Recent Substance Use Among Male Youth Residing in Pittsburgh: Cross-Sectional Findings from a Randomized Control Trial

This study examined associations between race-based discrimination and substance use among a predominantly minority sample of male youth, ages 13–19, residing in under-resourced neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Youth completed in-person, anonymous electronic surveys about their lifetime experiences with race-based discrimination and past 30-day tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use. Logistic regression models examined associations between race-based discrimination, measured as a sum of each discriminatory experience endorsed and by each individual discriminatory experience, and past 30-day substance use. Models controlled for age, sexual orientation, school suspension history, parental education, and intervention status. Although most youth (85.6%) reported experiencing one or more forms of race-based discrimination in their lifetime, total discrimination scores were not significantly associated with past 30-day substance use. However, item-specific analyses revealed that unfair police treatment was significantly associated with greater odds of tobacco use (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI 1.39, 3.41) and marijuana use (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI 1.51, 3.39). Study findings highlight the importance of item-specific measurement since types of race-based discrimination have different consequences for youth (e.g., detention from an unfair teacher, police arrest). Study results suggest the need for healing-centered strategies and policy reforms to address the negative impact of policing on minority youth’s well-being.