title: Smoking Is Associated with Increased Risk of Binge Drinking in a Young Adult Hispanic Population at the US-Mexico Border.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines factors related to general health and health behavior, including smoking, that may be associated with binge drinking, drinking "at risk," and potential for alcohol use disorder among young adults of Mexican ancestry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2191 young adult emergency department (ED) patients (18-30 years) of Mexican ancestry in a public hospital proximate to the US-Mexico border completed health surveys while they were waiting to be treated, including questions on general health, drinking, smoking, and drug use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven percent of the study participants reported binge drinking, 38% were "at-risk" alcohol users (above National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines), and 22% were Rapid Alcohol Problem Screen (RAPS) positive (indicating potential for alcohol use disorder). Smoking was reported by 31%, marijuana use by 16%, and other drug use by 9%. Multiple variable models revealed that smoking was the strongest factor associated with binge drinking. Those who smoked were 3.1 (P < .0001) times more likely to binge drink. Other factors independently associated with binge drinking were age 22-25 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5, P = .003), male gender (OR = 1.5, P = .0001), and ED visit for injury (OR = 1.4, P = .007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a strong association of smoking and binge drinking. Study findings suggest that brief interventions designed to reduce preventable health risks for young Hispanics should include discussion of both binge drinking and smoking behaviors.
authors.affiliation: a Texas Tech University Health Science Center , El Paso , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woolard
authors.forename: Jiayang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parsa
authors.forename: Garrett
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merriman
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tarwater
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alba
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villalobos
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Cheryl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cherpitel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol, brief intervention, community health worker, counseling