title: The effect of cross-border mobility on alcohol and drug use among Mexican-American residents living at the U.S.-Mexico border.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little epidemiological evidence exists on alcohol or other substance use and related problems along the U.S.-Mexico border, although the border has been the focus of recent media attention related to the escalating drug/violence "epidemic". The purpose of this study was to analyze the association of variables related to crossing the border (cross-border mobility) with three substance use outcomes reported for the last year: 1) heavy drinking (5+ drinks per day for men or 4+ for women), 2) alcohol use disorder (AUD), and 3) co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (any use of illicit and/or non-medically prescribed drugs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Household surveys were conducted, using area probability sampling of 1565 Mexican-American residents, aged 18-65, living at the Texas-Mexico border in the metropolitan areas of Laredo and McAllen/Brownsville.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among those 18-29, more frequent crossing of the border was significantly predictive of AUD (OR = 1.61, p < 0.01) and co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (OR = 1.70, p < 0.01). Staying more than one full day was predictive of AUD (OR = 3.07, p < 0.001) and crossing to obtain over-the-counter or prescription drugs ("drug tourism") or for nightlife/drinking were predictive of heavy drinking (ORs = 4.14, p < 0.001; 3.92, p < 0.01, respectively), AUD (ORs = 7.56, p < 0.001; 7.68, p < 0.01, respectively) and co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (ORs = 8.53, p < 0.01; 4.96, p < 0.01, respectively). Among those 30-65, staying more than a full day and crossing for pharmaceutical reasons were predictive of heavy drinking (OR = 2.54, p < 0.001; 2.61, p < 0.05, respectively) and co-occurring heavy drinking and drug use (OR = 3.31, p < 0.001; 4.86, p < 0.01, respectively), while none of the mobility variables were predictive of AUD in this age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cross-border mobility may play an important role in substance use and problems, especially among those 18-29. Findings also highlight the importance of "drug tourism" in substance use across the age spectrum.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States. Electronic address: ccherpitel@arg.org.
authors.forename: Cheryl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cherpitel
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Zemore
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Psychiatry, Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol use disorders; Cross-border mobility; Drug use; Heavy drinking; Mexican-Americans