In conclusion, the present results inform ongoing inconsistencies in the epidemiological patterns of substance use and consequences of use by race and ethnicity in the US. We find convergence in rates over the lifecourse for cigarette use and, for women, marijuana use frequency from adolescence to adulthood, suggesting that problematic patterns of use may, in part, underlie disparities in health outcomes that emerge later in life. However, similar effects are not documented for alcohol use, quantity or frequency at least through early adulthood, suggesting that further research into race/ethnicity disparities in alcohol-related health conditions that do not correspond to the consumption patterns is needed. Greater attention to exploring and understanding the intersection of race, substance use, and consequences is imperative for improving public health. Smoking and heavy drinking remain among the most prevalent and preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in the US, and mortality disparities are well documented (Gadgeel & Kalemkerian, 2003). Marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit substance in the US (Compton et al., 2007), and changing policy towards decriminalization and legalization of use portends greater access
