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| 5 May 2002 - The San Diego Union-Tribune Every morning after Drinking takes toll on Mexican-Americans Evidence points to an alcohol-related health epidemic in the Mexican-American community in California. But, unfortunately, the broad-based research necessary to lift the veil on this crisis and help public health officials and policy-makers figure out how to solve it has never been done. Major research also is imperative to focus public attention on this problem. There has been a limited amount of research on alcohol and the overall Latino community. Mexicans and Mexican-Americans as a subset apparently have different drinking patterns and different problems in adapting to American culture than do Americans of Puerto Rican or Cuban descent, for instance. California needs a study – a county-by-county look at the problem. Some studies on specific issues have been done in Los Angeles County, but very little has been done elsewhere. A broad- based, community-wide study that includes comprehensive research on alcohol-related disease, trauma and violence, plus case studies on drinking patterns and other special problems, hasn't been done anywhere. San Diego County would be a good place to start. The evidence shows why: Higher rates of heavy drinking among Latinos. Higher rates of liver cirrhosis. Higher rates of alcohol- fueled murders and violence. Higher death rates in alcohol-related car crashes. Higher rates of drunken driving. Higher rates of spousal abuse, which is generally linked to alcohol. Some light has been shed on the causes of these problems, including studies showing the high concentration of alcohol advertising in Mexican-American communities, as much as five times that in white communities. Another study among Mexican men living in Long Beach showed that they seriously underestimated the number of drinks it took before their driving was impaired. And another study showed that Mexican-American youths were significantly more likely to begin drinking before age 13 than white youths. The acculturation process of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans also appears to be linked to drinking problems. Studies show that Mexican men begin drinking more heavily after they come to the United States. While drinking rates among Latina women are generally very low, they too increase after coming to this country. Clearly, we need prevention programs and other anti-alcohol abuse efforts tailored to the Mexican and Mexican-American community, and a curtailment of the alcohol industry's targeting of this community. But until we get a better handle on the exact nature of this problem, it's hard to develop the proper solutions. Major research requires funding. California has several large health-related endowments – including the California Endowment, the California HealthCare Foundation and the California Wellness Foundation – which would be likely sources to support such research. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors also has been supportive of other health and substance-abuse measures, and might be able to find funds for a research project in this county. The alcohol-related health crisis in the Latino community cries out for basic research to finally prove its existence. Philanthropic health foundations, government and public health departments should not ignore this important need in the fastest- growing ethnic community in the state. |
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