Framing ethnic variations in alcohol outcomes from biological pathways to neighborhood context.
BACKGROUND
Health disparities research seeks to eliminate disproportionate negative health outcomes experienced in some racial/ethnic minority groups. This brief review presents findings on factors associated with drinking and alcohol-related problems in racial/ethnic groups.


METHODS
Those discussed are as follows: (i) biological pathways to alcohol problems, (ii) gene × stress interactions, (iii) neighborhood disadvantage, stress, and access to alcohol, and (iv) drinking cultures and contexts.


RESULTS
These factors and their interrelationships are complex, requiring a multilevel perspective.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of interdisciplinary teams and an epigenetic focus are suggested to move the research forward. The application of multilevel research to policy, prevention, and intervention programs may help prioritize combinations of the most promising intervention targets.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work , Richmond, Virginia.
Karen G
KG
Chartier
Denise M
DM
Scott
Tamara L
TL
Wall
Jonathan
J
Covault
Katherine J
KJ
Karriker-Jaffe
Britain A
BA
Mills
Susan E
SE
Luczak
Raul
R
Caetano
Judith A
JA
Arroyo
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological
Alcohol; Associated Factors; Ethnicity; Health Disparities; Race