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The Impact of the Urban Neighborhood Environment on Marijuana Trajectories During Emerging Adulthood

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Abstract

Although there is little difference in rates of marijuana use between White and Black youth, Blacks have significantly higher rates of marijuana use and disorder in young adulthood. Theory suggests that factors tied to social disadvantage may explain this disparity, and neighborhood setting may be a key exposure. This study sought to identify trajectories of marijuana use in an urban sample during emerging adulthood, neighborhood contexts that predict these trajectories and social role transitions or “turning points” that may redirect them. Data are from a longitudinal cohort study of 378 primarily Black emerging adults who were first sampled in childhood based on their residence in low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore City and followed up annually. Group-based trajectory modeling identified three groups: No Use (68.8%), Declining Use (19.6%), and Chronic Use (11.7%). Living in close proximity to an alcohol outlet, and living in a neighborhood with more female-headed households and higher rates of violent crime increased the odds of membership in the Chronic Use group relative to No Use. Living in a neighborhood with more positive social activity increased the odds of membership in the Declining Use group relative to No Use. Not receiving a high school diploma or GED, pregnancy, and parenting also increased the odds of membership in the Declining Use group relative to No Use. These findings provide support that minority youth living in socially toxic and disordered neighborhoods are at increased risk of continuing on a trajectory of marijuana use during emerging adulthood while positive social activity in neighborhoods has the potential to redirect these negative trajectories. Besides taking on the responsibilities of parenting, emerging adults in the marijuana user groups had similar educational and family outcomes, suggesting that early marijuana use may have long-term implications.

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Funding

This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA032550, DA031738).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    Beth A. Reboussin

  2. Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Nicholas S. Ialongo, Renee M. Johnson & Adam J. Milam

  3. Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Kerry M. Green

  4. Public Health Division and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Flint, MI, 48502, USA

    Debra M. Furr-Holden

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  1. Beth A. Reboussin
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  4. Debra M. Furr-Holden
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Correspondence to Beth A. Reboussin.

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All data collection procedures were carried out with approval from, and in compliance with, the IRB at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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Written parental consent was obtained from parents in accord with the requirements of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Committee on Human Research.

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Reboussin, B.A., Ialongo, N.S., Green, K.M. et al. The Impact of the Urban Neighborhood Environment on Marijuana Trajectories During Emerging Adulthood. Prev Sci 20, 270–279 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-018-0915-4

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