@article{ref1,
title="A "refugee paradox" for substance use disorders?",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2014",
author="Salas-Wright, Christopher P. and Vaughn, Michael G.",
volume="142",
number="",
pages="345-349",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Few, if any, studies have systematically examined the link between nativity and substance use disorders (SUD) among refugees using national samples. As such, it remains uncertain if the &quot;immigrant paradox&quot; for substance use can be extended to include refugees in the United States. <br><br>METHODS: Employing data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, we examine the lifetime prevalence of SUDs among refugees (n=428) in contrast with non-refugee immigrants (n=4955) and native-born Americans (n=29,267). We also examine the impact of gender and refugee duration on the relationship between nativity, refugee status, and SUDs. <br><br>RESULTS: Refugees were between 3 and 6 times less likely than native-born Americans meet criteria for all SUDs examined, and significantly less likely than non-refugee immigrants to meet criteria for alcohol (AOR=0.44, 95% CI=0.41-0.47), cocaine (AOR=0.54, 95% CI=0.50-0.59), hallucinogen (AOR=0.66, 95% CI=0.58-0.74), and opioid/heroin (AOR=0.62, 95% CI=0.58-0.66) use disorders. The refugee-SUD link was significantly moderated by gender. Duration as a refugee was associated with increased risk for alcohol use disorder and decreased risk of cannabis and illicit drug use disorders. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Study findings provide evidence in support of a &quot;refugee paradox&quot; for SUDs among adults in the United States. Refugees are substantially less likely than native-born Americans to meet criteria for all SUDs examined and, albeit with weaker effects, significantly less likely than non-refugee immigrants to meet criteria for a variety of SUDs.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.06.008",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.06.008"
}