Exposure to Violence as a Predictor of Time to Dextromethorphan Misuse Onset in Childhood and Adolescence Among Youth in the USA: The Moderating Role of Race

Abstract Research understanding predictors of early onset of Dextromethorphan misuse remains limited. Exposure to violence is one risk factor that may predict earlier onset of use. Racial identification may moderate this relationship. Secondary exploratory analyses of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development data were carried out. Cox proportional hazard models estimated the direct effect of exposure to violence on time to dextromethorphan misuse onset (event N = 75) and the interactive effect of exposure to violence and race. This interaction entailed the multiplicative effect of binary race (0 = White; 1 = racially minoritized) and exposure to violence (0 = no; 1 = yes) variables. Exposure to violence was associated with quicker time to and greater overall risk for dextromethorphan use onset during the study period (HR = 1.950; p < 0.004). The effect of exposure to violence was significantly stronger for White youth than racially minoritized youth (HR = 0.291; p < 0.036). Prevention programming for White survivors of violence may be more salient than for racially minoritized survivors.