Prevalence and Correlates of Daily Blunt Use Among US African American, Hispanic, and White Adults From 2014 to 2018

Objective: Blunt smoking presents unique public health concerns relative to other methods of marijuana use, including greater exposure to toxins and carcinogens as well as increased risk for cannabis use disorder. This study examines correlates of self-reported daily blunt use among a nationally representative sample of adult blunt users in the United States. Method: We pooled and analyzed 5 years of cross-sectional data from n = 10,826 adult blunt smokers in the United States using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2014-2018). Multiple logistic regression analysis examined correlates of daily blunt use among nonHispanic White, non-Hispanic African American, and Hispanic/Latino adult blunt users in the United States. Next, multiple logistic regression analyses stratified by race/ethnicity were conducted. This study examined: (a) socio-demographic (age, sex, and income); (b) behavioral (alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use); (c) intrapersonal (depression); and (d) regulatory (marijuana laws) factors. Results: African Americans had the greatest prevalence of daily blunt use (24.2%), relative to Whites (9.1%) and Hispanic/Latinos (13.9%) (p < .001). African Americans aged 26-34 years old (adjusted odds ratio [Adj OR]: 1.37) and living in medical marijuana states (Adj OR: 1.28) were more likely to be daily blunt users; these factors were not associated with daily blunt use in the full sample or in stratified models of Whites or Hispanic/Latinos. Alcohol use was negatively associated with daily blunt use among Whites and Hispanic/Latinos but not African Americans. Conclusions: Socio-demographic, behavioral, and regulatory factors appear differently associated with daily blunt use across racial/ethnic groups.

Automated summary

This study found that African Americans had the highest prevalence of daily blunt use, and that socio-demographic, behavioral, and regulatory factors were associated with daily blunt use differently across racial/ethnic groups.