Alcohol and Cannabis Use in the Context of Violence Experiences and Traditional Masculinity Attitudes Among Black Emerging Adult Men in Baltimore,Maryland

Abstract

Cannabis and alcohol use can be coping mechanisms for young Black men who have experienced violence. Less is known about cannabis and alcohol use among men with cumulative violence experiences, including intimate partner violence (IPV). The purpose of this study was to describe alcohol and cannabis use in the context of violence experiences and traditional masculinity attitudes. Black men ages 18 to 24 (N = 100) were recruited from community centers serving disconnected youth in Baltimore, MD. They completed cross-sectional surveys and a subsample participated in a total of three focus groups (n = 17). Cumulative violence was a composite variable comprising experiences of IPV, child abuse, witnessing family violence, and neighborhood violence. Cannabis and alcohol use and violence experiences were summarized using descriptive statistics. Focus group data were managed in a software program and thematically analyzed among three team members. Most participants reported cannabis use (61%) and two or more cumulative violence experiences (70%), with a smaller percentage reporting frequent binge drinking (15%). Two themes described cannabis and alcohol use motivations: (a) Coping and (b) Social connectedness. “That’s my escape for real” described a participant coping with experiences of trauma and violence. “It’s a social thing” described participant use that facilitated and enhanced peer social connectedness in the context of collective trauma. A Baltimore-based sample of young Black men reported multiple forms of violence. Alcohol and cannabis helped men cope with experiences of trauma and violence and enhance social connections. Black men’s cumulative experiences of violence should be considered when addressing alcohol and cannabis use.