# A Multimethod Examination of Individual and Environment Contributors to Racial Inequities in Cannabis Use

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $631,971

## Abstract

Project Summary
Significance: Black relative to White young adults engage in heavier cannabis use and are more likely to
experience cannabis use disorder. The reasons for these inequities, including the role of stress caused by
systemic racism, are poorly understood and in critical need of empirical study. The proposed community-
engaged R01 examines the dynamic transactions between stressors, reactivity (physiological and emotional),
and cannabis cognitions (craving, motives) to identify the processes that contribute to inequities in cannabis
use outcomes for Black young adults. Aims: Aim 1 will examine differences between Black and White young
adults in cannabis cognitions and cannabis problems in relation to acute stressors. Aim 2 will test reactivity as
a between- and within- person characteristic that tightens the effect of experiencing a stressor on cannabis
cognitions and cannabis outcomes. Aim 3 will examine the transaction among cannabis use, cannabis
cognitions, and reactivity from BL through 12-month follow-up. Hypotheses: We hypothesize that Black
relative to White young adults will report higher cannabis craving, coping motives, and cannabis problems.
These differences will be partially driven by acute stressors, including discrimination events. Additionally, as a
function of systemic racism, Black relative to White young adults will have heightened reactivity to acute
stressors, which will tighten the association between acute stress exposure and cannabis cognitions. Black
more than White young adults will increase their cannabis use and problems through the 6- and 12-month
follow-ups and this increase will be driven by higher baseline cannabis cognitions. Increases in cannabis use
from baseline to 6-month follow-up will be associated with increased reactivity at 12-month follow-up. In turn,
increased reactivity will relate to tightened associations between acute stress exposure and cannabis
cognitions during the 12-month ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Approach: Young adults who use
cannabis (weekly+ freq.; N=350; 18-25 years of age; 60% self-identifying as Black, 50% assigned female at
birth; matched across race on past 30-day cannabis use freq.) will be recruited. Participants will complete an
interview/questionnaires and a standardized stress task to assess reactivity (subjective, physiological: HF-
HRV) and craving. Next, participants will complete a 17-day EMA protocol to record stress and discrimination
events, reactivity (subjective and physiological), cannabis cognitions, and cannabis use/problems. Parallel lab
and EMA protocols will be completed at a 12-month follow-up with a brief survey of cannabis use and problems
at 6 months. This proposal is directly in line with NIDA’s strategic priorities on increasing health equity through
community-engaged research and NIDA’s focus on addressing real-world complexities that contribute to
substance use problems. This research takes a critical step towards identifying proxima...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10873893
- **Project number:** 5R01DA055597-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah L Pedersen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $631,971
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10873893

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10873893, A Multimethod Examination of Individual and Environment Contributors to Racial Inequities in Cannabis Use (5R01DA055597-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10873893. Licensed CC0.

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