Prevalence, patterns and predictors of substance use among Latino migrant men in a new receiving community

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 133; no. 3; pp. 814 - 824
• Main Authors: Kissinger, Patricia, Althoff, Meghan, Burton, Nicole, Schmidt, Norine, Hembling, John, Salinas, Oscar, Shedlin, Michele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15-12-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Binge drinking; Binge Drinking - epidemiology; Cohort; Drug abuse; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Follow-Up Studies; Health Surveys; Hispanic or Latino - psychology; Humans; Latin American people; Latino migrant men; Male; Men; New Orleans - epidemiology; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Respondent driven sampling; Risk Factors; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; STI; Substance abuse; Substance use; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Young Adult; New Orleans; Substance use; Binge drinking; STI; Respondent driven sampling; Cohort; Latino migrant men
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.08.031

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, patterns and predictors (individual, social, cultural, and environmental) of illicit drug use and binge drinking in a cohort of Latino migrant men (LMM) in a new receiving community. Methods A cohort of LMM in New Orleans ( n = 125) was assembled in 2007 using respondent driven sampling and interviewed quarterly for 18 months regarding past month substance use and other potential covariates. Baseline frequencies were weighted using RDSAT and longitudinal analyses included generalized estimating equations (GEE) and the Cochran–Armitage test for trends. Results At baseline, substance use behaviors were: drug use 15.0% (range 7.3–25.0%) and binge drinking 58.3% (range 43.6–74.6%). All three of these behaviors decreased over follow-up ( P < 0.01). Baseline alcohol dependence and drug problem were 11.8% (range 5.6–24.3%) and 0.08% (range 0.00–2.7%) and both remained the same over time. Baseline rate of chlamydia was 9% (range 0.00–22.4%); all men tested negative for gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis. For both binge drinking and drug use, having sex with a female sex worker was associated with increased risk, whereas belonging to a club or organization was associated with less risk. Additional factors associated with increased drug use were: having a friend in New Orleans upon arrival, symptoms of depression, and working in construction. An additional factor associated with less binge drinking was having family in New Orleans upon arrival. Conclusion Among LMM, substance use is influenced by social and environmental factors. Interventions increase community connectedness may help decrease usage.