NewsWhore
08-09-2010, 02:30 PM
New research in the United States has found that Dominican-Americans and other Hispanic-Americans have lower rates of alcohol and illicit drug use than the national average.
The study found significant differences in rates of adult substance use among various Hispanic-American groups. For example, the level of past month alcohol use among Spanish Americans is above the national average and 50% higher than among Dominican Americans (60.8% versus 40.3%, respectively). And the rate of current illicit drug use among Spanish Americans is nearly three times higher than the level among Dominican Americans (13.1% versus 3.9%, respectively).
Substance use rates are much higher among US-born Hispanic Americans than those who were born outside the United States. For example, past-month binge drinking was reported by 57.7% of US-born Hispanic Americans and 37.2% of those born outside the United States, while the rate of past-month illicit drug use was 11.3% for those who were US-born and only 3% for those who were foreign-born, according to the findings.
For this study, researchers analyzed data from 227,791 people (including 31,848 Hispanic Americans), aged 18 or older, who took part in the 2004 to 2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.
"Hispanic Americans are one of the fastest growing communities in our country and include a vast array of diverse populations - each with a unique set of behavioral health strengths, challenges and needs," SAMHSA administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in an agency news release.
"This study and others indicate that as ethnic and immigrant populations become more acculturated into our national culture, they tend to develop many of the same behavioral health challenges faced by the general population. Through a more detailed understanding of this diverse community we can better tailor our prevention and treatment strategies to reach all of its members," she added.
www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-07-hispanic-drugs-alcohol_N.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-07-hispanic-drugs-alcohol_N.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)
The study found significant differences in rates of adult substance use among various Hispanic-American groups. For example, the level of past month alcohol use among Spanish Americans is above the national average and 50% higher than among Dominican Americans (60.8% versus 40.3%, respectively). And the rate of current illicit drug use among Spanish Americans is nearly three times higher than the level among Dominican Americans (13.1% versus 3.9%, respectively).
Substance use rates are much higher among US-born Hispanic Americans than those who were born outside the United States. For example, past-month binge drinking was reported by 57.7% of US-born Hispanic Americans and 37.2% of those born outside the United States, while the rate of past-month illicit drug use was 11.3% for those who were US-born and only 3% for those who were foreign-born, according to the findings.
For this study, researchers analyzed data from 227,791 people (including 31,848 Hispanic Americans), aged 18 or older, who took part in the 2004 to 2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.
"Hispanic Americans are one of the fastest growing communities in our country and include a vast array of diverse populations - each with a unique set of behavioral health strengths, challenges and needs," SAMHSA administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in an agency news release.
"This study and others indicate that as ethnic and immigrant populations become more acculturated into our national culture, they tend to develop many of the same behavioral health challenges faced by the general population. Through a more detailed understanding of this diverse community we can better tailor our prevention and treatment strategies to reach all of its members," she added.
www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-07-hispanic-drugs-alcohol_N.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-07-hispanic-drugs-alcohol_N.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)