TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Alcohol-related problem behaviors among Latin American immigrants in the US JO - Addictive behaviors A1 - Salas-Wright, Christopher P. A1 - Vaughn, Michael G. A1 - Goings, Trenette Clark A1 - Miller, Daniel P. A1 - Chang, Jina A1 - Schwartz, Seth J. SP - 206 EP - 213 VL - 87 IS - N2 - BACKGROUND: Prior research indicates that Latino immigrants are less likely than US-born individuals to use alcohol and meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder. However, our understanding of alcohol-related problem behaviors among Latino immigrants remains limited. We report the prevalence of alcohol-related problem behaviors among Latino immigrants vis-à-vis the US-born and examine the relationship between alcohol-related problem behavior and key migration-related factors and injury/receipt of emergency medical care.

METHODS: The data source used for the present study is the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III, 2012-2013), a nationally representative survey of 36,309 civilian, non-institutionalized adults ages 18 and older in the US. Logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between immigrant status and key outcomes.

RESULTS: Foreign-born Latinos were less likely to report one or more alcohol-related problems compared to US-born Latinos (AOR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.33-0.50) and the US-born general population (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.32-0.46). Latino immigrants arriving as children were, compared to those arriving later in life, significantly more likely to report alcohol-related problem behaviors, and experiences of discrimination were linked with greater risk of alcohol-related problem behavior as well. Latino immigrants reporting recurrent injury/emergency medical care utilization were more likely to report alcohol-related problem behavior.

CONCLUSIONS: Latino immigrants are significantly less likely than US-born Latinos and the US-born general population to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, take part in risky behaviors or fight while drinking, or to be arrested due to alcohol consumption.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0306-4603 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.06.031 ID - ref1 ER -