Alcoholism and Illicit Drug Use

Minority Women's Health > Hispanic Americans/Latinas > Health Topics > Alcoholism and Illicit Drug Use

• Resources in English
• Recursos en español

Alcoholism is a pattern of drinking that is harmful to the drinker and/or to others. It is a disease that includes the following:

• craving: a strong need to drink
• loss of control: can't stop drinking once drinking has started
• physical dependence: having withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after a period of heavy drinking
• tolerance: need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get buzzed "

Heavy drinking is defined as five or more drinks in one day at least once a month for adults. Heavy drinking can lead to alcohol problems, including alcoholism. Heavy drinking is more harmful to women than men. Heavy drinking raises a woman's risk of being hurt or raped. Drinking over the long run is more likely to damage a woman's health than a man's, even if the woman has been drinking less alcohol or drinking for a shorter length of time than the man.

Some people should NOT drink at all, including: women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant people who plan to drive or do other things that require alertness and skill (such as using high-speed machinery) people taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medicines people with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking recovering alcoholics people younger than age 21

Overall, Hispanic/Latina women tend to drink little or none at all. However, younger Hispanic/Latina women, who are more "mainstream" in American culture, are more likely to drink and to drink heavily. Research has shown that Mexican American women who have immigrated to the U.S. tend to drink very little or not at all, just as they did in their home country. However, as new generations are born and Mexican American women become more a part of the American culture, drinking rates increase. After three generations, the drinking patterns of Mexican American women are similar to those of white women.

Hispanics/Latinos are close to three times as likely as non-Hispanics to die from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, even though they have lower rates of drinking and heavy drinking. Cirrhosis is a progressive and often fatal liver disease often caused by long-term heavy drinking. The reason for this is unclear. One reason may be that Hispanics/Latinos tend to consume more alcohol per drinking session than whites. Also, Hispanics/Latinos have higher rates of hepatitis C, a liver disease that greatly raises the risk for liver damage in heavy drinkers.

If you drink alcohol, a safe level of drinking for most adults is:

• up to two drinks per day for men

• one drink per day for women and older people

Illicit drugs are illegal drugs, like heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, PCP, and LSD. Hispanic/Latina women use illicit drugs at a rate similar to that of other groups of women. But in more rural areas, Hispanic/Latina women are more likely than other groups of women to use illicit drugs.

If you think you may have a problem with drinking or drugs, get help. You can find out what kind of help is available from a doctor or nurse, clergy, or employee assistance program (EAP). Therapists, community health and social agencies, and alcohol/other drug treatment programs also can make useful suggestions. Begin by looking under "alcohol" or "drug abuse" in your telephone directory white pages.

Resources in English

Publications

1.   Alcohol: A Women´s Health Issue - This booklet contains information on women and the effects of consuming alcohol. This publication includes information on the benefits and risks of drinking, as well as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, drinking in adolescents and older women, and alcoholism.

   http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/women.htm

2.   April is Alcohol Awareness Month - This fact sheet contains answers about alcohol abuse and discusses the reasons behind why Hispanics are at higher risk of having problems with substance abuse.

   http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/april2004/alcohol/

3.   ClubDrugs.org (Copyright © NIDA) - This Internet site is dedicated to providing reliable information on club drugs that are used by young adults at all-night dance parties such as "raves" or "trances," dance clubs, and bars. NIDA-supported research has shown that use of club drugs can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, even death. Used in combination with alcohol, these drugs can be even more dangerous.

   http://www.clubdrugs.org/

4.   Fact Sheet on Substance Use in the Hispanic/Latino Community - This publication contains general facts about the prevelance of substance abuse among young Latinos as well as among the general Latino population.

   http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cre/fact3.asp

5.   NIDA InfoFacts - Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction - This is a fact sheet covering research findings on effective treatment approaches for drug abuse and addiction.

   http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofax/treatwomen.html

6.   Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator - This web site can help you locate a substance abuse treatment facility in your area.

   http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

7. Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy (Copyright © MOD) - Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause physical and mental birth defects. This fact sheet explains the hazards of drinking during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the effects of the father's drinking, and what the March of Dimes is doing to prevent fetal alcohol exposure.

   http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/19695_1170.asp

8. Substance Abuse: The Basics - This web site provides a list of resources and links to on-line publications with useful information on substance abuse.

   http://www.noah-health.org/en/mental/disorders/substance/what/index.html

Organizations

1.   Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), SAMHSA, OPHS, HHS
2.   National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, HHS
3.   Office of Minority Health, OPHS, OS, HHS
4. Alcoholics Anonymous
5. Center for a Healthy Maryland
6. National Council of La Raza
7. National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention

= Indicates Federal Resources

Recursos en español

Publicaciones

1.   Alcohol: Un tema de salud de la mujer - Este librito explica cómo el 60% de las mujeres en los Estados Unidos consume como mínimo una bebida alcohólica al año. El 13% consume más de 7 bebidas alcohólicas a la semana. Asimismo discute los beneficios de tomar moderadamente y los riesgos de consumir alcohol. Aprenderá sobre el Síndrome alcohólico fetal, cómo el estrés y el consumo de alcohol afecta a las mujeres de todas edades.

   http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/WomenSpanish/women.htm

2.   La bebida y su embarazo - La ingestión de alcohol durante el embarazo puede dañar a su bebé y puede causarle el síndrome alcohólico fetal. Este folleto da una lista de los problemas asociados con este síndrome, contesta algunas preguntas acerca de la bebida durante el embarazo y provee una lista de fuentes de información en este tema.

   http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/DrinkingPregnancy_HTMLSpan/pregnancy_span...

3.   Cirrosis del hígado - Esta página ofrece información acerca la Cirrosis del hígado una condición que comúnmente ocurre debido a el alcoholismo y la hepatitis C. Aquí encontrara información sobre las causas, los síntomas, diagnóstico, complicaciones y tratamientos.

   http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/cirrhosis/

4.   Cómo disminuir su hábito de ingerir alcohol - Esta publicación provee información para la persona que toma alcohol. Esta hoja les deja saber si la cantidad de alcohol que están ingeriendo puede convertirse en un problema.

   http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/spancut.htm

5.   Estrategias para reducir el consumo de alcohol - Algunos pequeños cambios pueden hacer una gran diferencia en reducir las probabilidades de tener problemas relacionados con el consumo de alcohol. Este folleto ofrece algunas estrategias para probar. Marque algunas para probarlas la primera semana, y agregue otras la semana siguiente.

   http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Tips/tips_spanish.htm

6.   Formulario general sobre el consumo real de drogas y alcohol entre la juventud Hispano/Latina - Esta publicación contiene hechos relacionados con el consumo de alcohol, tabaco y drogas ilícitas en la comunidad hispano/latina.

   http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/initiatives/hisplatino/community/toolkitspan.aspx

7.   Localizador de centros de tratamiento de drogadicción - Este sitio de web le ayudará a encontrar un centro de tratamiento de drogadicción en su area.

   http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/

8.   NIDA InfoFacts: Diferentes enfoques de tratamiento para la drogadicción - La drogadicción es un problema de salud serio, crónico y recurrente para hombres y mujeres de todas las edades y condiciones sociales. Esta hoja de datos resume las consecuencias del abuso de drogas, la relación con el VIH/SIDA, y las opciones para el tratamiento.

   http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/MetodosTrat-sp.html

9.   NIDA InfoFacts: Las Drogas de Club - Esta publiación da información acerca de la MDMA (éxtasis), el Rohipnol, el GHB, y la ketamina son algunas de las drogas usadas por los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes que frecuentan los clubes nocturnos, bares, bacanales (fiestas "rave"), o las escenas "trance".

   http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/ClubDrugs-Sp.html

10. El consumo de alcohol durante el embarazo (Copyright © MOD) - Esta publicación explica los riesgos y los efectos dañinos de tomar alcohol durante embarazo. Explica los efectos que tiene en el desarrollo del feto.

    http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9388_9936.asp

Organizaciones

1.   Centro de Información de la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías
2.   Instituto Nacional Sobre el Abuso de Drogas, NIH, HHS
3. Alcohólicos Anónimos

= Recurso Federal

Current as of December 2007