title: Substance abuse prevalence and treatment among Latinos and Latinas.
abstract: Substance abuse prevalence rates for Latinos/as generally mirror those of the general U.S. population; however, a number of indicators of assimilation to U.S. culture as well as sociodemographic variables predict substance use and abuse among this group. Latinos/as have poorer outcomes in substance abuse treatment programs. Yet there is little empirical evidence that explains the problems these individuals experience in treatment, and there are few studies on the use and effectiveness of mutual help groups among this population. New developments in the conceptualization and measurement of acculturation will lead to a greater understanding of the role of culture in the prevalence and treatment of substance-related problems.
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Research, De Paul University, 990 West Fullerton Ave, Suite 3100, Chicago, IL 60614-2458, USA. jalvare4@depaul.edu
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jason
authors.forename: Bradley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Margaret I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology