Alcohol use and binge drinking among Hispanic/Latino subculture youth, and the differences in the affect of acculturation Hal Johnson, MPH Florida Substance Abuse Program Office and the FSU Florida Center for Prevention Research June 4, 2012 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Omaha, Nebraska

Background Risky behaviors vary among different races/ethnicities Risky behaviors vary among different races/ethnicities Hispanic ethnicity is a growing portion of the US population Hispanic ethnicity is a growing portion of the US population Many programs/interventions have been developed to reduce risky behaviors, including underage drinking, among Hispanic youth. Many programs/interventions have been developed to reduce risky behaviors, including underage drinking, among Hispanic youth.

Background However, most of these programs don’t distinguish between Hispanic subcultures However, most of these programs don’t distinguish between Hispanic subcultures Spanish, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central American and other Hispanic cultures, while sharing some aspects, are different Spanish, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central American and other Hispanic cultures, while sharing some aspects, are different Examining differences between these subcultures in the US is challenging for several reasons Examining differences between these subcultures in the US is challenging for several reasons

Background Challenges Challenges –Immigration patterns - limited diversity of Hispanic subcultures in most areas –Underage drinking – limited age range means limited population –Few databases include information on ethnicity at a level lower than “Hispanic”

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey Annually since 2000 Annually since 2000 –Even years – County level (~60,000) –Odd years – State level (~8,000) Grades 6 through 12 Grades 6 through 12 Based on Communities That Care Survey Based on Communities That Care Survey

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey How do you describe yourself? (You can choose one answer, or more than one)  American Indian/Native American or Alaska Native  Asian  Black/African American  Spanish/Hispanic/Latino  Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander  White/Caucasian  Other

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey Which one of these ethnic groups BEST describes you? (Choose only one answer)  Central American (Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, Honduran, for example)  Cuban or Cuban American  Dominican  Mexican or Mexican American  Puerto Rican  Other Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin  Haitian  West Indian or Caribbean  None of these

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey Consistent differences by race/ethnicity Consistent differences by race/ethnicity –Whites use at the highest rate –Black youth use at lowest rate –Hispanic youth use at a slightly lower rate than non-Hispanic Whites Similar results from other school based surveys such as Monitoring the Future Similar results from other school based surveys such as Monitoring the Future

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey

Hispanic Youth Population Trend * Source: Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research (Age 10-17)

Florida youth Ethnicity (FYSAS)

Hispanic Subcultures among Florida youth (FYSAS)

Data Considerations Use even year data Use even year data Exclude 2000 Exclude 2000 –Changes made in race/ethnic variables Compare each year for variations Compare each year for variations Combine years Combine years Weight to adjust for sample size Weight to adjust for sample size

Population Proportion Across Years

Combined Dataset Ethnicities HispanicNon-HispanicTotal N ,467 52,467 62, ,140 48,205 60, ,684 43,668 56, ,343 70,351 90, ,563 56,234 72,797 Combined72,197270,925343,122

Past-30-day Alcohol Use

Binge Drinking

Odds Ratios Reference Group: Non-Hispanic White Control Variables: Age Gender Mother’s education Father’s education

Acculturation Coatsworth and Maldonado-Molina. J Community Psychol (2).

Acculturation Acculturation has been implicated as a risk factor for substance use and other unhealthy behaviors Acculturation has been implicated as a risk factor for substance use and other unhealthy behaviors 1990 to 2000 Hispanic Population Growth* 1990 to 2000 Hispanic Population Growth* –50% increase in # American-born Hispanics –81% increase in # born in other countries In 2000, 40% of all Hispanics and 54% of southern US Hispanics were foreign born* In 2000, 40% of all Hispanics and 54% of southern US Hispanics were foreign born* *Saenz, R. www2.asanet.org/public/saenz_brief.ppt

Acculturation Length of time in the US related to less acculturation Length of time in the US related to less acculturation Language spoken at home is reasonable proxy for length of time in US and acculturation Language spoken at home is reasonable proxy for length of time in US and acculturation FYSAS has one question on language spoken at home FYSAS has one question on language spoken at home

Acculturation FYSAS question: What is the language you use most often at home?  English  Spanish  Another Language

Language Spoken at Home

Past-30-day Use and Binge Drinking by Language Spoken at Home – All Hispanic Youth

Odds Ratios – Language Spoken at Home OR Group: Speak Spanish at Home Reference Group: Speak English at Home Control Variables: Age Gender Mother’s education Father’s education

Past-30-Day Alcohol Use by Language Spoken at Home

Binge Drinking by Language Spoken at Home

Odds Ratios – Language Spoken at Home OR Group: Speak Spanish at Home Reference Group: Speak English at Home Control Variables: Age Gender Mother’s education Father’s education

Summary All Hispanic youth in Florida drink and binge drink at a rate between NH-Whites and NH- Blacks All Hispanic youth in Florida drink and binge drink at a rate between NH-Whites and NH- Blacks But there are differences among the Hispanic subcultures But there are differences among the Hispanic subcultures –Central American youth less likely to drink or binge than others –“Other Hispanic” youth more likely to drink or binge than others –Mexican youth more likely to binge than others

Summary Hispanics speaking Spanish at home less likely to report past-30-day use, but not binge drinking Hispanics speaking Spanish at home less likely to report past-30-day use, but not binge drinking Subculture differences: Subculture differences: –Cuban, Mexican and Puerto Rican youth show past-30-day acculturation affect –Central American and Mexican youth show binge drinking acculturation affect –No other significant differences

Conclusions FYSAS provides an excellent opportunity to investigate AOD use and other risky behavior among Hispanic subpopulations FYSAS provides an excellent opportunity to investigate AOD use and other risky behavior among Hispanic subpopulations –Large and growing Hispanic youth population –More diverse Hispanic population than most states –Annual youth survey with large N and useful ethnicity and acculturation questions

Conclusions Hispanic youth are not homogeneous Hispanic youth are not homogeneous –There are differences in alcohol use and binge drinking among subcultures –There are differences in the affect of acculturation on likelihood to drink or binge drink Taking subculture into account can add to the effectiveness of targeted prevention programs Taking subculture into account can add to the effectiveness of targeted prevention programs