Epidemiology of Drinking and Disorders in Border vs. Non-Border Contexts People of Mexican origin constitute the largest subgroup of Hispanics in the US (70 percent), representing 29 percent of the country's immigrant population, a large proportion of which comes to the US from border areas in Mexico. The border, home to the largest concentration of those of Mexican-origin living in the US, has received a great deal of media attention due to high rates of violence, homicide and drug trafficking, but little epidemiologic data exist on substance use or related disorders along the US-Mexico border on either side, or the effect of such stressors. This suggests the need for an in-depth study of alcohol use and related problems within the border context, including an examination of the influence of border proximity and cross-border mobility on alcohol use outcomes. The proposed research aims to describe and explain alcohol use patterns and related problems among Mexican-origin adults living in three pairs of sister metropolitan areas at the Texas-Mexico border, plus, as a contrast, in one adjacent non-border metropolitan area on each side of the border as follows: 1) describe alcohol and drug use patterns and alcohol use disorders in border vs. non-border context on both sides of the border;2) test a conceptual model explaining the effects of border variables on alcohol and drug use outcomes;3) describe cross-border mobility on both sides and determine the influence of cross-border mobility on alcohol and drug use patterns and alcohol use disorders. Survey data, from face-to-face household interviews, will be collected on 2,400 Mexican-origin adults over the age of 18 living in three border metropolitan areas (Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville), and one non-border metropolitan area (San Antonio) in Texas, and on 2,400 adults living in three sister metropolitan border counterparts (Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa and Matamoros), and one non-border metropolitan area in Mexico. Hazardous drinking, alcohol use disorders, and drug use will be compared between respondents in border and non-border metropolitan areas on both sides, and between those in Texas and their counterparts in Mexican sister metropolitan areas. Path analysis will be used to test the conceptual model. These findings are expected to increase our understanding of alcohol use patterns and problems in the border context, including the influence of cross-border mobility, and provide valuable data for formulating hypotheses which can be explored in a broader border context. Findings from this application will inform intervention and prevention related to substance use at the border.

Public Health Relevance

This research is relevant to public health issues at the US-Mexico border in relation to alcohol use, factors (including cross-border mobility) affecting consumption patterns and alcohol use disorders. Findings from this study will inform policy development, prevention, and treatment interventions addressing these issues.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA018365-03
Application #
8102169
Study Section
Behavioral Genetics and Epidemiology Study Section (BGES)
Program Officer
Arroyo, Judith A
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$535,356
Indirect Cost
Name
Public Health Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
128663390
City
Oakland
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94607
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Wallisch, Lynn; Zemore, Sarah E; Borges, Guilherme et al. (2018) Prevalence and correlates of arrests or stops for drunk driving on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. J Ethn Subst Abuse 17:478-500
Orozco, Ricardo; Benjet, Corina; Ruiz Velasco-Acosta, Silvia et al. (2017) Area-level disadvantage and alcohol use disorder in northern Mexico. Drug Alcohol Depend 175:219-226
Cherpitel, Cheryl J; Li, Libo; Borges, Guilherme et al. (2017) Age at Immigration and Substance Use and Problems Among Males and Females at the U.S.-Mexico Border. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 78:827-834
Wallisch, Lynn; Zemore, Sarah E; Cherpitel, Cheryl J et al. (2017) Wanting and Getting Help for Substance Problems on Both Sides of the US-Mexico Border. J Immigr Minor Health 19:1174-1185
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Lown, E A; Cherpitel, C J; Zemore, S E et al. (2017) Hazardous drinking and exposure to interpersonal and community violence on both sides of the U.S. -Mexico border. Hisp J Behav Sci 39:528-545
Borges, Guilherme; Cherpitel, Cheryl J; Orozco, Ricardo et al. (2016) Substance Use and Cumulative Exposure to American Society: Findings From Both Sides of the US-Mexico Border Region. Am J Public Health 106:119-27
Conde, Karina; Cremonte, Mariana; López, Mariana Beatriz et al. (2016) Gender and Alcohol Use Disorders Diagnostic Criteria in Emergency Department Patients of Argentina. Subst Use Misuse 51:1629-1636
Zemore, Sarah E; Cherpitel, Cheryl J; Ye, Yu et al. (2016) Factors Explaining Variation in Alcohol Use Disorder Prevalence Across Border and Nonborder Communities in Texas. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 40:1707-16

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