In adolescence and young adulthood, Blacks are less likely to use alcohol and tobacco (Baker et al., 2003; Breslau et al., 2006; Hasin et al., 2007; Pacek et al., 2012; Swendsen et al., 2012; Wu et al., 2011; Zapolski et al., 2014), and equally or less likely to use marijuana depending on the time frame assessed (Pacek et al., 2012; Wu et al., 2011), compared with non-Hispanic Whites (henceforth referred to as “Whites”). However, among users of the substances, Blacks progress from use to dependence faster than Whites (Alvanzo et al., 2011), have longer duration of use (Caetano & Kaskutas, 1995), and experience more substance-related consequences than other racial/ethnic groups.. Specifically, in early adulthood, Blacks are more likely to experience legal and social/interpersonal problems related to use (Witbrodt et al., 2014), arrest/incarceration for marijuana-related offences (Ramchand et al., 2006), and injury (Keyes et al., 2012a; Witbrodt et al., 2014). At later stages of adulthood, Blacks have higher rates of lung cancer mortality (Gadgeel & Kalemkerian, 2003), and cardiovascular outcomes (Volkow et al., 2014). The reasons for the contrast in race/ethnic
