“Hispanic” is a broad term, and in the United States, refers to any Spanish-speaking individual, particularly those of Latin American descent.
For research purposes, data is often collected based on specific demographics and ethnic groups, including Hispanic/Latino individuals. This includes Hispanic substance abuse statistics in the USA. Based on this data, high-risk groups can be identified to provide greater support when needed.
For example, one study1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2377408/ collected data from 4,580 undergraduate students at a Midwestern research university. Hispanic and White students were more likely to use and abuse drugs compared to African American and Asian students. The study included drug use before they began attending post-secondary school, as well as during. Rates of use varied depending on the substance of choice.
The goal is often prevention. By understanding what ethnic groups are at risk of substance use disorders, policies and resources can be adjusted to meet the needs of select groups and communities.
Experts agree2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059600/ that as the size of the Hispanic population in the United States increases, it’s important to focus on both the prevalence and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse among this group. While studying the Hispanic community, researchers have uncovered several risk factors, particularly concerning access to treatment.
Based on the available Hispanic substance abuse statistics in the USA, here is what you need to know about addiction among the Hispanic community, as well as what can be done about it. If you or your loved one need help, services are available in Southern California for both addiction and mental health.
Table of Contents
The Latino/Hispanic community has been steadily growing for over a decade3https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/acs-1year.html. In 2010, 50.74 million Hispanic individuals were living in the United States, growing to 60.48 million by 2019, making this population the largest ethnic subpopulation. Approximately half4https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83240/ of this population is concentrated in California and Texas, and nearly a quarter reside in New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, and New York.
To better understand the prevalence of addiction, it’s important to look at Hispanic substance abuse statistics in the USA.
Most of the research on substance use among Hispanics focuses on alcohol. The belief is that regardless of national origin, the Hispanic/Latino community showcases higher rates of substance abuse among men compared to women.
Aside from alcohol, researchers have also studied the relationship between the Hispanic community and drug use — both prescription and illicit.
A 2019 report5https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31747797/ highlighted the Hispanic community, addiction, and the opioid epidemic. The number of opioid-related deaths increased nearly fivefold in the United States between 1999 and 2016. Research shows disparities in healthcare among minority populations living with opioid use disorder, particularly among Hispanics. As discussed below, the stigma towards mental illness and addiction treatment plays a significant role.
Read more: Minority Mental Health Awareness: Hispanic Males and Addiction Recovery
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides a window into the state of substance abuse and mental health concern in the United States, including Hispanic substance abuse statistics in the USA. The goal of this research is to help guide policy efforts to address:
The NSDUH also took a closer look at the current opioid crisis, including the use of prescription misuse among Hispanics. Here are some of the Hispanic substance abuse statistics in the USA concerning opioids.
If you or your loved one are struggling with addiction, help is just a phone call away. Learn more about alcohol rehab and drug rehab at Windward Way. If you have questions, call our Newport Beach treatment center at (855) 491-7694.
According to California Health Care Almanac7https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/SubstanceUseDisorderAlmanac2018.pdf, approximately 8% of Californians met the criteria for substance use disorder. However, only 10% receive any type of treatment.
The following stats highlight substance use among the Latino/Hispanic community living in California.
When aiming to prevent substance use disorders, Hispanic emerging adults are a priority population in Southern California. This group represents individuals between the ages of 18 to 25, and are more likely than any other age group to use substances of abuse.
To better understand the association between ethnicity and substance use, researchers were interested in how culturally-related beliefs and values influence substance use. This 2018 study8https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5701850/ was interested in whether traditional Hispanic cultural values showcase protective factors or risk factors concerning substance use among emerging adults.
Some of the greatest cultural values among the Hispanic community include:
The researchers concluded that although limitations exist in the research, cultural variables matter when implementing prevention and intervention programs. These programs should emphasize how substances of abuse interfere with respeto (caring and honoring parents), as well familism (the cohesion and functioning of a family).
Other studies (and Hispanic substance abuse statistics in the USA) warn it’s important to understand that the cultural traits attributed to Hispanics/Latinos are most often generalizations. Since this community is not a homogeneous group, they do not think and act the same concerning every issue, including addiction. For example, Cuban Americans and Mexican Americans may have varying views within their culture and more specifically within their homes. This is a complex issue and, like all substance abuse treatment options, personalized treatment is usually the best alternative.
Before we discuss some of the barriers that currently exist among the Hispanic community concerning addiction treatment, it’s important to address some of the current risk factors.
Each year, approximately 150,000 to 200,000 migrants from Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras come to the United States, seeking work opportunities. Of the Mexican and Central American immigrant population, roughly 40% reside in California10https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388552/. These individuals face several hardships, including long-term separation from their family members and difficult working conditions, increasing the risk of anxiety and mood disorders. Sadly, some of these individuals will then turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. Regional studies based in California have shown that among Hispanic migrant workers, as many as 80% regularly binge drink11https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21990944/, 39% are dependent on alcohol12https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17579343/, and 25% use cocaine and/or methamphetamine13https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19824833/.
Some of the main barriers Hispanic migrants face when seeking treatment for substance use disorders include:
Sadly, many do not get any help until it is court-mandated (e.g. following a DUI conviction) or they suffer injuries. Research shows that up to 66%14https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19274893/ of Hispanic migrant workers’ emergency department visits were related to the misuse of alcohol. This means that drug and alcohol use among this community not only threatens the individuals themselves, but these situations can also pose serious public health issues.
Upon reviewing Hispanic substance abuse statistics in the USA, it’s clear that the Hispanic community is in need of support. One of the most important areas of focus is treatment — and more specifically, the challenges surrounding available treatment options. National studies show that Latinos and Hispanics are less likely to use substance abuse treatment programs, including both in and out-patient programs compared to other ethnic groups.
In one key study15http://sites.edb.utexas.edu/uploads/sites/136/2018/09/Pinedo_Latinos_Barriers-to-treatment.pdf, Latin American/Hispanic individuals were significantly more likely to report barriers concerning subjective and attitudinal norms than White or Black participants. One of the greatest barriers is how Hispanic and Latino individuals view treatment from a cultural perspective. Within the Hispanic community, people don’t often talk about their problems.
A participant in the study said, “Everybody drinks and you don’t talk about your feelings; that’s the way things are. It’s kind of hard to change when everyone has the same mentality.”
Other barriers included:
The study concluded that specialty substance abuse treatment services are effective, regardless of one’s race or ethnicity. Continuing to understand why Latino/Hispanic individuals showcase low rates in utilizing specialty treatment is critical when aiming to reduce ethnic disparities related to addiction.
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