Chapter 10 – Hispanic Substance Abusers in the United States

1. Chapter 10 – Hispanic Substance Abusers in the United States

2. Not much research on Hispanics Out of Many Peoples does not Come One • Disagreement on what to call people from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America and other Latin America communities Trends in Substance Users and Research • No real substance abuse done on Hispanics until 1984 • Research on Hispanics have been in two categories • Identify Hispanic substance abusers by their country of origin • Identify substance abusers by specific substances • Hispanics now largest ethnic minority group • Hispanics are younger when compared with other groups • Greater number living in poverty compared to African Americans and whites • Lower percentage have health coverage • Hispanics have less access to health care compared to other groups

3. Hispanic Subculture • Opiates abused more by Mexicans • Opiates also highly abused by Puerto Ricans • Cocaine most abused by Cubans • Alcohol most abused by Hispanics • Substance use is generally lower among Hispanics than Whites • Hispanics consume more alcohol than African Americans, Asians and Native American teens

4. Gender Gap • Mexican Americans and Puerto Rican respondents in a study engaged in more frequent heavy drinking than other Hispanic groups • Women engage in legal and illegal much less than their male counterparts but the gap is narrowing Machismo – holding one’s alcohol is proof of one’s masculinity • All males (regardless) of race believe a real man can “hold his liquor” • Single men drink more than married men • Young single males (Hispanics) were among the highest alcohol consumers and binge drinkers

5. Other Selected Studies • Hispanics have higher tobacco use Acclamation • Degree of acclamation is a primary influence on Hispanics regarding their use of alcohol and other drugs • Hispanics use alcohol rather than community service agencies to deal with life stresses • Economic marginality (lower family incomes, increase high school dropout rates and English language barriers) are phenomena commonly linked with the risk for becoming a substance abuser Treatment and Prevention • See pages 199-200

6. Families First • Evidence support the beliefs that Hispanic families play an important role in terms of causing, abating or presenting substance abuse • Poor family communication set the stage for association with delinquent peers • Extended family concept • Adolescents (12-17) females may be more likely to use stimulants and tranquilizers than their male counterparts • Use may continue throughout the above group’s life (see page 201) • If 12 step groups coed it may be difficult for male and female Hispanics to self disclose

7. Baseline Information • See pages 201-202 What service providers should know Research Instruments • CAGE – being checked for validity and reliability for Hispanics • Researchers are developing instruments and scales to assess potential health risk factors of Hispanics • Cultural Lifestyle Inventory • Ethnic Loyalty Scale • Acclamation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans • Assessment instruments and agency materials must be carefully written in English and Spanish (Ramirez & Baraona, 2000; Santiago-Rivera, 1995) • See bottom of page 202 and top of page 203