Salud! Addressing Latino Health Challenges
July 29-31, 2002

The University of Georgia
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Department of Foods and Nutrition
In partnership with
DrTango, Inc. and the Latin American Association

Monday, July 29th, 2002
3:30-5:00 p.m.

Session: "Latino Substance Abuse": Reducing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disparities among Latinas

Speaker: Ramon Acosta, Regional Project Coordinator, U.S. Mexico Border Health Association

o Agency
o Nonprofit organization
o Defines levels of treatment
o Will also provide a residential program for Latinos

o Latino Adolescent Substance Abuse Program
o Strong family component
o Ages 12-19

Question 1: What factors have contributed to the rise of substance abuse in the Latino community?

o Mental health
o Cultural gap
o Poverty
o School issues--environment
o Cultural shock
o Peer pressure
o Family attitudes
o Lack of options
o Acculturation
o Self-esteem
o 8th grade Latino youth have the highest smoking rate
o Within Latino adult males- alcohol is the most substance used
o It is taboo for Latino women to drink
o Mexicans have the number one cirrhosis death rate

Question 2: What Issues do Latinos face that contributes to depression? How can we address these issues?
o Education- Latinos need to know laws, opportunities
o Family
o Empower children and parents to be part of the culture
o More treatment
o Basic entrance screening
o Mood disorders
o Isolation causes depression
o Financial burdens
§ 20% of high school female Hispanic students has had one suicide attempt
o Language
o Cultural shock
o Immigration status
o Family separation
o No sense of hope/purpose
o Involuntary immigration for spouse and child -- increased levels of anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorders
o Change of roles - adult, children translation

o How can we address these issues?
o Community involvement
o Education
o More providers
o Recruit and motivate students

Question 3: What are some barriers?
o Few Latino psychiatrics
o Affordability is an issue
o Few licensed counselors are bilingual
o Have increased number of Latinos arrested for DUI's
§ Level 1 treatment programs do not have to be licensed, only certified, therefore, there is no supervision
o No mental health support groups in Spanish or even bilingual

o Four barriers to access to services
o Accessibility
o Availability
o Affordability
o Acceptability