title: Acculturation, alcohol consumption, and casualties among United States Hispanics in the emergency room.
abstract: The association of alcohol consumption and casualties was analyzed among Hispanic emergency room patients to determine whether level of acculturation and accompanying changes in drinking patterns influence risk of alcohol-related injuries. A sample of patients admitted to a county hospital emergency room during a 1-year period was breathalyzed and interviewed (N = 1,102). Of these, 112 identified themselves as Hispanic. Hispanic males were more likely than non-Hispanics to have positive breathalyzer readings, to report drinking prior to the event, and to attribute a causal association of drinking with the event. These findings were most pronounced among those in the moderate and high acculturation groups.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Medical Research Institute of San Francisco, Berkeley, California 94709.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cherpitel
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001944:Breath Tests; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D014481:United States