Drabble Laurie A, Munroe Cat, Mericle Amy A, Zollweg Sarah, Trocki Karen F, Karriker-Jaffe Katherine J
San Jose State University College of Health and Human Sciences, San Jose, CA, USA.
Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.
Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2022 Jun;3. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100058. Epub 2022 Apr 29.
Sexual minority women (SMW) are at greater risk for heavy episodic drinking, frequent marijuana use, and tobacco use than heterosexual women. Because past research has suggested the political and social environment may influence disparities in substance use by sexual orientation, this study examined associations of the U.S. state-level policy environment on substance use by SMW.
A total of 732 SMW participants were recruited from two national online panels: a general population panel ( = 333) and a sexual minority-specific panel ( = 399). Past year substance use was defined by number of days of heavy episodic drinking (HED; 4+ drinks in a day), weekly tobacco use (once a week or more vs. less or none), and weekly marijuana use (once a week or more vs. less or none). Comprehensive state policy protection was defined by enactment of five policies protecting rights of sexual minorities. Regression models compared substance use outcomes for SMW living in states with comprehensive policy protections to SMW living in states with fewer or no protections. Models also assessed the impact of state policies related to alcohol (state monopoly on alcohol wholesale or retail sales), tobacco (state enactment of comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws) and marijuana (legalization of purchase, possession, or consumption of marijuana for recreational use).
Comprehensive policy protections were associated with fewer HED days. Recreational marijuana legalization was associated with higher odds of weekly use.
Findings underscore the importance of policy protections for sexual minorities in reducing substance use, particularly HED, among SMW.
性少数群体女性（SMW）比异性恋女性有更高的重度暴饮、频繁使用大麻和吸烟风险。由于过去的研究表明政治和社会环境可能会影响性取向导致的物质使用差异，本研究调查了美国州级政策环境与SMW物质使用之间的关联。
从两个全国性在线小组中招募了总共732名SMW参与者：一个普通人群小组（n = 333）和一个针对性少数群体的小组（n = 399）。过去一年的物质使用情况通过重度暴饮天数（HED；一天内饮用4杯及以上）、每周吸烟情况（每周一次或更多次与更少或不吸烟）以及每周使用大麻情况（每周一次或更多次与更少或不使用）来定义。全面的州政策保护通过五项保护性少数群体权利的政策的颁布来定义。回归模型比较了生活在有全面政策保护的州的SMW与生活在保护较少或没有保护的州的SMW的物质使用结果。模型还评估了与酒精（州对酒精批发或零售的垄断）、烟草（州颁布全面的无烟工作场所法律）和大麻（将娱乐用大麻的购买、持有或消费合法化）相关的州政策的影响。
全面的政策保护与更少的HED天数相关。娱乐用大麻合法化与每周使用大麻的较高几率相关。
研究结果强调了性少数群体政策保护在减少SMW物质使用，特别是重度暴饮方面的重要性。
