Variation in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Units with High Concentrations of Latino Versus White Clients: Client Factors,Treatment Experiences,and Treatment Outcomes

Abstract

Research on Latinos receiving substance abuse care lacks detail in terms of client characteristics, treatment services, and the effectiveness of treatment. This study uses data from a large, recent, nationally representative sample of outpatient substance abuse treatment units to examine differences in client characteristics, treatment services, and outcomes. The study examines differences between units with 20% or more Latino clients and treatment units with 90% or more White clients. Results show that units with high concentrations of Latinos treat clients who are significantly poorer, more prone to abuse drugs than alcohol, more prone to turn to crime to support their habit, more likely to be ordered to treatment by the courts, and at a higher risk for HIV/AIDS; these clients have poorer treatment outcomes. Treatment and policy implications for units treating high concentrations of Latino clients and culturally sensitive substance abuse treatment are discussed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Psychiatric Association . (1980). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Washington, DC: Author.

Booth, M. W. , Castro, F. G. , & Anglin, M. D. (1990). What do we know about Hispanic substance abuse? A review of the literature. In R. Glick & J. Moore (Eds.), Drugs in Hispanic communities (pp. 21-43). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Caetano, R. (1983). Drinking patterns and alcohol problems among Hispanics in the U.S.: A review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 18, 1-15.

Caetano, R. (1988). Alcohol use among Hispanic groups in the United States. American Journal on Drugs and Alcohol, 14, 293-308.

Caetano, R. , & Martinez, R. M. (1987.) Alcohol use in Madrid and among U.S. Hispanics (Report Number C-47, prepared under contract for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). Berkeley, CA: Alcohol Research Group.

The Chronicle of Higher Education. (1992, August 26), 39(1), 3-27.

Gilbert, M. J. , & Cervantes, R. C. (1986). Alcohol services for Mexican Americans: A review of utilization patterns, treatment considerations, and prevention activities. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 8, 1-60.

Gilbert, M. J. , & Cervantes, R. C. (1988). Alcohol treatment for Mexican Americans: A review of utilization patterns and therapeutic approaches. In M. J. Gilbert (Eds.) Alcohol consumption among Mexicans and Mexican Americans: A binational perspective (pp. 199-231). Los Angeles: Spanish Speaking Mental Health Research Center, University of California.

Groves, R. M. , Bisner, P. P. , Lyberg, L. E. , Macury, J. T. , Nocholls, W. L. , & Waksberg, J. (Eds.) (1988). Telephone interview methodology. New York: John Wiley.

10.

Institute of Medicine . (1990). Broadening the base of treatment for alcohol problems. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

11.

Markides, K. S. , Ray, L. A. , & Stroup-Benham, C. A. (1990). Acculturation and alcohol consumption in the Mexican American population of the southwestern United States: Findings from HHANES 1982-1984. American Journal of Public Health, 80(suppl), 20-26.

12.

Maurer, J. D. , Rosenberg, H. M. , & Keemer, J. B. (1990). Deaths of Hispanic origin, 15 reporting states, 1979-1981. Vital Health Statistics(20) (DHHS publication PHS 91-1855), 18, 1-73.

13.

National Center for Health Statistics . (1985, September). Plan and operation of the Hispanic health and nutrition examination survey, 1983-1984. Vital Health Statistics (Series 1, No. 19, DHHS Publication No. [PHS]85-1321). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

14.

Perez-Stable, E. J. , Gerando, M. , & VanOss Martin, B. (1994). Behavioral risk factors: A comparison of Latinos and non-Latino whites in San Francisco. American Journal of Public Health, 84(6), 971-976.

15.

Rogler, L. H. , Malgady, R. G. , Constantino, G. , & Blumenthal, R. (1987). What do culturally sensitive mental health services mean: The case of Hispanics. American Psychologist, 42, 565-570.

16.

Trevino, F. M. , Moyer, M. E. , Valdez, B. , & Stroup-Benham, C. A. (1991). Health insurance coverage and utilization of health services by Mexican Americans, mainland Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans. Journal of the American Medical Association, 265, 233-237.

17.

U.S. Bureau of the Census . (1988). The Hispanic population of the United States: March 1988. In Current population reports (advance report), population characteristics (Series P-20, No. 431). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

18.

Westermyer, J. (1982). Ethnic factors in treatment. In E. M. Pattison and E. Kaufman (Eds.) Encyclopedia handbook of alcoholism (pp. 709-717). New York: Gardner Press.