Activity Space Assessments to Investigate Neighborhood Exposure to Racism-Related Stress and Related Substance Use Among Young Black Men: Connecticut, 2019.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To use activity space assessments to investigate neighborhood exposures that may heighten young Black men's vulnerability to substance use and misuse. <b>Methods.</b> We surveyed young Black men in New Haven, Connecticut in 2019 on the locations (activity spaces) they traveled to in a typical week and their experiences of racism and any alcohol and cannabis use at each location. <b>Results.</b> A total of 112 young Black men (mean age = 23.57 years; SD = 3.20) identified 583 activity spaces. There was significant overlap between racism-related events and substance use (alcohol and cannabis use) at specific locations. Areas with a higher prevalence of violent crime also had a greater frequency of racism-related events and substance use. <b>Conclusions.</b> An activity space approach is a promising method for integrating objective and subjective experiences within neighborhood contexts to better understand the frequency and co-occurrence of racism-related stress and substance use among young Black men. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2023;113(S2):S136-S139. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307254).