Comparison of treatment utilization and outcome for Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites

J Stud Alcohol. 1998 May;59(3):286-91. doi: 10.15288/jsa.1998.59.286.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the use of formal alcohol treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) by Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, and to compare ethnic groups on posttreatment functioning.

Method: Data from a publicly funded substance abuse treatment center in New Mexico were used to investigate possible differences between Hispanic (n = 46) and non-Hispanic white (n = 62) men (n = 76) and women (n = 32) on percent days alcohol therapy and AA attendance for 6 months after study recruitment.

Results: Hispanic clients were more often male (80% vs 63%), had fewer years of education (mean = 11.6 vs 12.6) and were less likely to live alone (7% vs 29%) than were non-Hispanic white clients. The heavy drinking (drinks per drinking day mean = 16.7; standard drink units in prior 90 days mean = 941.00) and few abstinent days (mean = 0.44) that characterized both groups at intake improved over time with Hispanics engaging in more formal alcohol therapy sessions but attending fewer AA meetings than non-Hispanic whites over the course of 6 months of follow-up. Attendance at treatment and AA were separately associated with decreased intensity and quantity of alcohol use, but not abstinent days, for both ethnic groups.

Conclusions: Hispanic and non-Hispanic white clients used somewhat different treatment strategies to deal with alcohol-related problems, these paths, however, ultimately resulted in similar posttreatment drinking outcomes (frequency, intensity and quantity of alcohol consumption).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholics Anonymous*
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / ethnology*
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Dropouts / statistics & numerical data
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Temperance / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / psychology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*