摘要
Background: For women of reproductive age, understanding perceptions of substance use risks is essential for making informed health decisions. This study examined the racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of substance use risks among women of reproductive age in the US. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a large and nationally representative dataset (unweighted n = 34,674; weighted N = 112,254,504). Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to identify patterns in perceptions of licit and illicit substance use risks. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine racial and ethnic differences in risk perceptions. Results: Among all substances examined, marijuana use was perceived as the least risky. Compared to White participants, Black, Hispanic, and Asian participants reported higher perceived risks for licit substance use, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.19, 1.68, and 1.90, respectively (all p < 0.01). Similar patterns were observed for illicit substance use, except among Asian participants (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Higher perceived risks among racial and ethnic minority groups may indicate greater awareness of substance use risks but could also reflect potential structural or historical inequities in healthcare access in the US.