What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction, Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Journal of adolescence on September 21, 2026.

Teacher discrimination linked to broader substance use in teens

Q: What did this research study find?

Among **1,556 adolescents**, teacher-reported social class discrimination was *uniquely associated* with a greater variety of substances used.

Encircled by Class: Examining the Association Between Social Class Discrimination From Multiple Sources and the Variety of Substances Used Among Adolescents.

Journal of adolescence • September 21, 2026 • Relevant

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AI Summary

This observational study examined whether social class discrimination from peers, classmates, school personnel, and the wider community was associated with the variety of substances used by adolescents. The researchers analyzed anonymous survey responses from 1,556 students at two U.S. public high schools. Substances included alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, and illicit drugs; the abstract does not report a study duration or a non-exposed comparison group.

Using negative binomial regression, the study found that reported discrimination from teachers was uniquely associated with higher substance use. No significant differences in this association were found by gender or social class. The findings point to teacher-based discrimination as a potentially important developmental risk factor, but this survey cannot establish that discrimination causes substance use, determine which substances drove the association, or show a specific effect of discrimination on cannabis use. This is an abstract-based summary and does not represent a review of the full paper.

💡 Key Findings

Among 1,556 adolescents, teacher-reported social class discrimination was uniquely associated with a greater variety of substances used.

Good

75%

The substance-use measure included alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, and illicit drugs, but the abstract does not identify a cannabis-specific association.

High

90%

The association did not significantly differ by gender or social class.

High

80%

Because this was an observational survey, it cannot establish that teacher discrimination caused adolescent substance use; the abstract also provides no effect sizes.

High

95%

📄 Original Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Social class discrimination refers to interpersonal bias based on social class and can originate from multiple sources. Adolescence is a critical period for examining this phenomenon, as it is linked to important behavioral and health outcomes. Substance use is one such outcome and remains a major global public health concern. While social class discrimination has been linked to tobacco use, its association with adolescent substance use remains unexplored. To address this gap, we investigated the association between social class discrimination from peers, classmates, school personnel, and members of the broader community, and substance use. METHODS: Anonymous surveys were administered to 1556 adolescents (44.5% girls, aged 16.16, SD = 1.20) from 2 public high schools in the United States. Social class discrimination was measured with a scale that addressed multiple sources, including peers, classmates, school personnel, and members of the broader community. Substance use included alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, and illicit drugs. RESULTS: Negative binomial regression showed that teacher discrimination was uniquely associated with higher substance use. No significant moderation by gender or social class was found. DISCUSSION: Findings highlight the important role of teachers in adolescents' experiences of social class discrimination and substance use. Teacher-based discrimination may represent a particularly salient developmental risk factor, underscoring the need for inclusive and equitable school environments.