The Role of Acculturation and Alcohol Problems on Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Latinas at Risk of an Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Along with alcohol, cannabis is one of the most commonly used substances among women of childbearing age. Recent studies indicate detrimental effects of prenatal cannabis use. Because many women use these substances before realizing they are pregnant, these serious health consequences for women and their offspring are of great concern. Despite the recent upsurge in cannabis use, little is known about individual and sociocultural factors that may contribute to risk of a cannabis-exposed pregnancy, particularly among Latinas of child-bearing age also at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP). Objectives: Examine the relationships of acculturation, alcohol use, alcohol problems, and psychological distress with frequency of cannabis use among adult Latinas at risk of an AEP. Methods: The hypothesized model included 76 Latinas and was analyzed using path analysis. The study used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of an intervention targeting risky drinking and tobacco use among women at risk of an AEP in primary care clinics. Results: Greater acculturation was associated with more frequent cannabis use and greater psychological distress. There was a positive indirect relationship between acculturation and alcohol use and alcohol problems through psychological distress. Greater alcohol problems were associated with more frequent cannabis use. Greater psychological distress and alcohol use were indirectly related to more frequent cannabis use through alcohol problems. Conclusions: Findings underscore the critical role of acculturation and alcohol-related problems in cannabis use frequency and have relevant implications for preventive efforts addressing cannabis use among Latinas at risk of an AEP.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01032772.

Keywords:

• Acculturation
• alcohol
• cannabis
• Latinas
• minority
• alcohol-exposed pregnancy

Clinical trial registration:

• ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01032772

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement U84DD000438 (Velasquez) and a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism R01AA022924 (Velasquez). The findings and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health.