Racial disparities in substance use among youth involved in bullying in Canada: A brief report

This study investigates how the associations between bullying involvement (as a victim, bully, or bully-victim) and substance use (cigarette, alcohol, cannabis, and vaping) differ across racial identities among Canadian youth. Using 2021-2022 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS) data, logistic regression analyses showed racial differences, with Black victims, bullies, or bully-victims having significantly higher odds of cigarette use than their White peers. A similar pattern was observed for cannabis use among Black victims. However, White youth demonstrated higher risk for other substances. These findings reveal important racial variations in the association between bullying involvement and substance use.