Acculturation and Drug Use Stigma Among Latinos and African Americans: An Examination of a Church-Based Sample

Abstract

Background Substance use patterns among Latinos likely reflect changes in attitudes resulting from acculturation, but little is known about Latinos’ attitudes regarding drug addiction. Methods We surveyed a church-based sample of Latinos and African Americans (N=1,235) about attitudes toward drug addiction and socio-demographics. Linear regression models compared Latino subgroups with African-Americans. Results In adjusted models, Latinos had significantly higher drug addiction stigma scores compared to African Americans across all subgroups (U.S.-born Latinos, β = 0.22, p<.05; foreign-born Latinos with high English proficiency, β = 0.30, p<.05; and foreign-born Latinos with low English proficiency, β =0.49, p<.001). Additionally, Latinos with low English proficiency had significantly higher mean levels of drug use stigma compared Latinos with high proficiency (both foreign-born and U.S.-born). Discussion In this church-affiliated sample, Latinos’ drug addiction stigma decreases with acculturation, but remains higher among the most acculturated Latinos compared to African-Americans. These attitudes may pose a barrier to treatment for Latino drug users.

Patient predictors of substance use disorder treatment initiation in primary care

“…The present study examines patient-level factors associated with treatment initiation in two of the largest clinics of a FQHC that recently implemented a motivational-interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy - based brief treatment (BT) and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for patients identified with an OAUD during routine screening (CITATIONS BLINDED FOR REVIEW). We included variables from prior literature predictive of treatment entry in specialty care across the Andersen categories of treatment access, such as race/ethnicity (Kirchner, Booth, Owen, Lancaster, & Smith, 2000; Saum, Hiller, Leigey, Inciardi, & Surratt, 2007; Schwartz, Kelly, O’Grady, Mitchell, & Brown, 2011; Weisner, Matzger, Tam, & Schmidt, 2002); age (Weisner et al, 2002), gender (Green, Polen, Dickinson, Lynch, & Bennett, 2002), education (Weisner et al, 2002) (predisposing characteristics); being stably housed and not homeless (Corsi, Kwiatkowski, & Booth, 2007), being legally employed (Saum et al, 2007; Schwartz et al, 2011), having health insurance (Saum et al, 2007), stigma (Barry, McGinty, Pescosolido, & Goldman, 2014; Crapanzano, Vath, & Fisher, 2014; Florez et al, 2015; Kulesza et al, 2016; Matthews, Dwyer, & Snoek, 2017) (enabling/inhibiting resources); and history of treatment for a SUD (Schwartz et al, 2011; Siegal, Falck, Wang, & Carlson, 2002), legal and social problems (Carlson et al, 2010; Siegal et al, 2002; Weisner et al, 2002), having more problems associated with drugs than with alcohol (Corsi et al, 2007), SUD severity (measured by frequency, consequences and symptoms of dependence) (Weisner et al, 2002), and perceived need, readiness or desire for treatment (Corsi et al, 2007; Schwartz et al, 2011; Siegal et al, 2002) (need/severity factors).…”

Confronting the opioid epidemic: public opinion toward the expansion of treatment services in Virginia

“…Nationally, opioid related deaths among Latinos rose 35% while synthetic deaths increased by 183%, between 2015 and 2016 (as cited in Rosello, 2018). Support among Latinos for needle exchange programs may also reflect broader changes in attitudes or moral values which occurs as part of the acculturation process to the American culture especially for Latinos in the United States (Flórez et al, 2015). Florez et al also explain that the escalating violence in Latin American countries may shape attitudes toward drug use.…”

Addressing Alcohol and Marijuana use Disparities among Latino Adolescents

“…The much lower reported percentage of marijuana use in the present dissertation study may be due to the unique subpopulations of Latinos who live in Miami-Dade County, Florida which is much different from the Latinos throughout the rest of the U.S. The high stigmatizing attitude associated with marijuana use and drug addiction among Latinos may also play a role, and stigmatizing attitudes may differ between Latino subpopulations (Florez et al, 2015;Kulesza et al, 2016). It is possible that the diverse Latino population in Miami-Dade County has stronger stigmatizing attitudes toward marijuana use as compared to Latinos throughout the rest of the U.S.…”

“…Moreover, when the test of differences in deviance between the reduced model (Religion) and the full model (country of birth, Religion, sex) was performed, there were no significant differences between the models. among Latinos, it is not surprising that the Latino adolescents who identified more strongly with being independent and self-reliant, a value that is not traditionally of high value in Latino culture, would be at increased risk of lifetime marijuana use (Florez et al, 2015;Kulesza et al, 2016).…”