Black college students consume less alcohol than other racial groups but are at a similar or higher risk of experiencing alcohol related adverse effects. Racial/ethnic discrimination may be one factor that increases adverse alcohol behavior among Black students. In addition, genetic factors may influence differences in coping-motivated drinking after discrimination. One genetic allele that has been associated with reduced alcohol use among Black Americans is ADH1B*3. The study examines the gene-environment relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and the ADH1B*3 allele on alcohol consumption in Black college students.  

The study’s sample consisted of 241 Black college students from a university in northeastern United States. Participants completed a questionnaire and provided a saliva sample for genotyping. The questionnaire assessed frequency of racial/ethnic discrimination during the past 3 months, frequency of drinking to cope, alcohol consumption during the past 30 days, and major life stressors during the past year. Data was analyzed using path analyses to examine for genetic and environmental effects on alcohol consumption.  

Results of the data analysis showed that 34% of student had at least one ADH1B*3 allele. The ADH1B*3 allele did not moderate the indirect effect of discrimination on alcohol consumption through coping drinking motives. Discrimination was not associated with coping drinking motives or alcohol consumption regardless of ADH1B*3. Greater negative life events were associated with greater coping drinking motives and indirectly greater alcohol consumption. There was no direct effect of negative life events on alcohol consumption.  

Takeaway: Negative life events may impact coping drinking motives in Black college students regardless of ADH1B*3 alleles.  

Zaso, M.J., Kim, J., Desalu, J.M., Goodhines, P.A., Marciano, M.A., Park, A.. Racial/ethnic discrimination, ADH1B*3, and coping-motivated drinking among Black college students [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jun 24]. The American Journal on Addictions. 2022;10.1111/ajad.13306. doi:10.1111/ajad.13306