Who We Are - Overview

2 August 2001
Latino Immigration and Substance Abuse
National Experts Gather in San Diego to Address Health and Safety Issues in the Hispanic Community

What:
HEAR nationally-renown speakers address substance abuse issues affecting Latinos in the United States.
LEARN the latest prevention strategies to deal with the fastest growing minority.
UNDERSTAND how alcoholism, other drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS are growing issues of concern in the Latino community.
BE AWARE that young Latinos are turning to club drugs and the rave culture.

Why:

	Latinos are the largest growing minority in the nation.
	Hispanics are the most targeted community by the alcohol industry because of their much younger population. (Median age is 24 compared to 33.5 for all other groups).
	Neighborhoods with a high density of Latinos have nearly five times more alcohol outlets than in white neighborhoods of the same city.
	Latinos have disproportionately higher rates of alcohol use, high-school dropouts, HIV/AIDS, and other health problems.
	Hispanic teens between the ages of 13 to 17 have the highest proportion of reported AIDS cases.
	Mexican Americans exhibit the highest prevalence for heavy alcohol use with 6.9% compared to 5.1% for the total U.S. population.
	Four out of 10 Mexican-American men with alcohol related problems die before 50 compared to only three out of 10 white men.
	Mexican-Americans are twice as likely to get arrested for drunk driving as whites and blacks.

When:
August 6-8, 2001
Opening Ceremony on Monday, August 6, 2001, 9:00 AM

Where:
U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego

Background:
The Hispanic Cluster was established in 1992 by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) High Risk Youth Branch along with a variety of workgroups. These workgroups or Clusters are designated to promote prevention programming. The Hispanic Cluster, itself, represents a network of substance abuse and health treatment and prevention providers throughout every region of the United States.