@article{ref1,
title="The effect of cross-border mobility on alcohol and drug use among Mexican-American residents living at the U.S.-Mexico border",
journal="Addictive behaviors",
year="2015",
author="Cherpitel, Cheryl J. and Ye, Yu and Zemore, Sarah E. and Bond, Jason C. and Borges, Guilherme L. G.",
volume="50",
number="",
pages="28-33",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Little epidemiological evidence exists on alcohol or other substance use and related problems along the U.S.-Mexico border, although the border has been the focus of recent media attention related to the escalating drug/violence &quot;epidemic&quot;. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association of variables related to crossing the border (cross-border mobility) with three substance use outcomes reported for the last year: 1) heavy drinking (5+ drinks per day for men or 4+ for women), 2) alcohol use disorder (AUD), and 3) co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (any use of illicit and/or non-medically prescribed drugs). <br><br>METHODS: Household surveys were conducted, using area probability sampling of 1565 Mexican-American residents, aged 18-65, living at the Texas-Mexico border in the metropolitan areas of Laredo and McAllen/Brownsville. <br><br>RESULTS: Among those 18-29, more frequent crossing of the border was significantly predictive of AUD (OR=1.61, p<0.01) and co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (OR=1.70, p<0.01). Staying more than one full day was predictive of AUD (OR=3.07, p<0.001) and crossing to obtain over-the-counter or prescription drugs (&quot;drug tourism&quot;) or for nightlife/drinking were predictive of heavy drinking (ORs=4.14, p<0.001; 3.92, p<0.01, respectively), AUD (ORs=7.56, p<0.001; 7.68, p<0.01, respectively) and co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (ORs=8.53, p<0.01; 4.96, p<0.01, respectively). Among those 30-65, staying more than a full day and crossing for pharmaceutical reasons were predictive of heavy drinking (OR=2.54, p<0.001; 2.61, p<0.05, respectively) and co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (OR=3.31, p<0.001; 4.86, p<0.01, respectively), while none of the mobility variables were predictive of AUD in this age group. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Cross-border mobility may play an important role in substance use and problems, especially among those 18-29. <br><br>FINDINGS also highlight the importance of &quot;drug tourism&quot; in substance use across the age spectrum.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0306-4603",
doi="10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.06.008",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.06.008"
}