July 16, 2009 |
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An estimated 8.3 percent (2.6 million) of Hispanics aged 12 or older were in need of alcohol use treatment in the past year, and 3.4 percent (1.1 million) were in need of illicit drug use treatment. Among Hispanics, past year need for treatment varied by ethnic subgroup and nativity. The prevalence of need for alcohol use treatment was higher among Mexicans (9.2 percent) than among Puerto Ricans (7.7 percent), Central or South Americans (6.8 percent), other Hispanics (6.4 percent), and Cubans (5.2 percent) (Figure 1). The need for illicit drug use treatment was higher among Puerto Ricans (6.1 percent) than among Cubans (3.6 percent), Mexicans (3.3 percent), other Hispanics (2.6 percent), and Central or South Americans (2.2 percent). Hispanics born in the United States were more likely than their counterparts who were not born in the United States to meet the criteria for need for alcohol use treatment (10.1 vs. 6.7 percent) and for illicit drug use treatment (5.5 vs. 1.5 percent) (Figure 2).
Ethnicity | Need for Alcohol Use Treatment |
Need for Illicit Drug Use Treatment |
---|---|---|
Mexican | 9.2% | 3.3% |
Puerto Rican | 7.7% | 6.1% |
Central or South American | 6.8% | 2.2% |
Cuban | 5.2% | 3.6% |
Other Hispanic | 6.4% | 2.6% |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Nativity | Need for Alcohol Use Treatment |
Need for Illicit Drug Use Treatment |
---|---|---|
Born in United States | 10.1% | 5.5% |
Not Born in United States | 6.7% | 1.5% |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Of the 2.6 million Hispanics in need of alcohol use treatment in the past year, 7.7 percent received treatment in a specialty facility; 15.1 percent of the 1.1 million Hispanics in need of illicit drug use treatment received treatment in a specialty facility. Among persons in need of treatment in the past year, Puerto Ricans were more likely than those in any other Hispanic ethnic subgroup to have received alcohol use treatment in a specialty facility; they were also more likely to have received illicit drug use treatment (Figure 3). About 1 in 6 Puerto Ricans (16.6 percent) in need of alcohol use treatment received treatment at a specialty facility compared with 7.2 percent of Mexicans, 4.7 percent of other Hispanics, and 3.2 percent of Central or South Americans. Over one quarter (27.9 percent) of Puerto Ricans in need of illicit drug use treatment in the past year received treatment at a specialty facility compared with 13.0 percent of Mexicans, 8.9 percent of other Hispanics, and 6.6 percent of Central or South Americans.
Ethnicity | Received Alcohol Use Treatment at a Specialty Facility |
Received Illicit Drug Use Treatment at a Specialty Facility |
---|---|---|
Mexican | 7.2% | 13.0% |
Puerto Rican | 16.6% | 27.9% |
Central or South American | 3.2% | 6.6% |
Other Hispanic | 4.7% | 8.9% |
* Rates of receipt of alcohol use treatment are among persons in need of alcohol use treatment; rates of receipt of illicit drug use treatment are among persons in need of illicit drug use treatment. |
** Data for Cubans are not included because of low precision. |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Among persons in need of illicit drug use treatment, Hispanics born in the United States were more than twice as likely as those who were not born in the United States to have received treatment in a specialty facility (17.4 vs. 7.6 percent) (Figure 4). The difference in the rate of alcohol use treatment among Hispanics born in the United States and Hispanics not born in the United States was not statistically significant (8.9 vs. 6.1 percent).
Nativity | Received Alcohol Use Treatment at a Specialty Facility |
Received Illicit Drug Use Treatment at a Specialty Facility |
---|---|---|
Born in United States | 8.9% | 17.4% |
Not Born in United States | 6.1% | 7.6% |
* Rates of receipt of alcohol use treatment are among persons in need of alcohol use treatment; rates of receipt of illicit drug use treatment are among persons in need of illicit drug use treatment. |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
The growing number of Hispanics in the United States will have an impact on the substance abuse treatment system for many years to come. The findings in this report show that many Hispanics in the United States were in need of substance use treatment in the past year, but few of these persons received treatment in a specialty facility. Additionally, this report shows that ethnic subgroup and nativity are important factors in the need for and receipt of substance use treatment among Hispanics. Specifically, Mexicans had a relatively high need for alcohol use treatment, but relatively low receipt of treatment compared with other Hispanic subgroups. Puerto Ricans in need of treatment were more likely than those in other Hispanic subgroups to have received treatment in a specialty facility. Hispanics born in the United States who were in need of illicit drug use treatment were more likely than those who were not born in the United States to have received treatment in a specialty facility. These findings highlight the need for continuing efforts to eliminate disparities in treatment access and utilization and for research on additional factors that may be related to treatment need and receipt among Hispanics (e.g., geographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and acculturation).
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2002 to 2007 combined data are based on information obtained from 57,333 Hispanics aged 12 or older. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2008). Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 08-4343, NSDUH Series H-34). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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