Intersectional Oppression-Based Stress, School Safety, and Substance Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents Who Are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

This study investigated the association between intersectional oppression-based stressors and substance use among sexual and gender minority (SGM; queer and transgender [QT]) adolescents who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) and examined the potential moderating role of school safety. Data were a subset of QTBIPOC adolescents (N = 3,563) from a dataset of SGM adolescents in the United States ages 13–18 years old. Intersectional oppression-based stressors (OBS) were associated with greater likelihood of recent use of alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, vaping, and other drugs; nonmedical use of prescription pain medicine; and heavy alcohol use. School safety was associated with lower likelihood of recent use of cigarettes, cannabis, vaping, and other drugs; nonmedical use of prescription pain medicine; and heavy alcohol use. School safety buffered the association between intersectional OBS and heavy alcohol use, but not other substances. Intersectional OBS are prevalent in the lives of QTBIPOC adolescents and these experiences are associated with greater likelihood of recent substance use. Although higher levels of school safety were generally associated with lower likelihood of substance use, school safety does not appear to be a robust protective factor against substance use for QTBIPOC adolescents experiencing OBS. This study highlights the need for interventions reducing intersectional OBS and research identifying factors that protect against substance use in this population.