Alcohol and Marijuana, Risk Factors for Binge Drinking and Interaction Effect of Race

Past research has suggested the relationship between alcohol and marijuana use. However, how perceptions of marijuana risk and availability are associated with alcohol misuse and the effect of race on its relation remain unclear. This study used data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to analyze the significance and direction of the interaction effect of race on the relation between binge drinking and marijuana use, risk perception and perceived availability among 57,169 U.S. respondents aged 12+ years. Results from weighted logistic regression and interaction modeling suggested that risk perception of binge drinking had greater effects on binge drinking behaviors among Whites compared to Blacks (p < 0.05), and similarly, perceived marijuana availability affected binge drinking behaviors to a larger extent among Whites than among Blacks (p < 0.01). Perceived risk of marijuana and use of marijuana weren't found to have interaction effects with race on binge drinking. To conclude, binge drinking was associated with not only the perceived risk of alcohol but also with marijuana regarding its use, risk perception, and availability. The presence of the interaction effect of race highlights the importance when studying a wide range of populations, of subgroup analyses to capture substance use patterns more accurately and to design and implement more efficient prevention and intervention services.