Hispanic(Latino/a) Prevention & Treatment

Hispanics use chemical dependency treatment services (SAMHSA, 2001b) and are treated for drug episodes in hospital emergency departments (SAMHSA, 2002) at nearly the same rate as their representation in the population.

More Hispanics in chemical dependency treatment (32%) have a primary heroin problem than Whites (12%) or African Americans (15%). Puerto Ricans in treatment programs (48%) were most likely to have a primary heroin problem (SAMHSA, 2001b).

Treatment providers should capitalize on the strengths and values of Hispanics, such as dignidad (dignity), respeto (respect), familismo (family orientation), and confianza (interdependence and trust) (Quinones & Doyle, 1981; Aguilar et al., 1991; Comas-Diaz, 1986; Melus, 1980).

Suggestions to increase treatment use among Hispanics include:

• Employ staff that are representative of the community's ethnic composition (Delgado, 1998a; McQuade, 1989; Quinones & Doyle, 1981; Santiago-Rivera, 1995).
• Offer services in clients' preferred language (Huff & Kline, 1999b; Santiago-Rivera, 1995).
• If literacy is an issue, use non-print media such as videos rather than texts or pamphlets to educate and promote behavioral change.
• Platicas (small talk/little gatherings where people talk) may be a useful format for discussing alcohol and drug use and related problems (Marin & Marin, 1991).
• Frame treatment as fulfilling family responsibilities or increasing family unity (Baron, 2000; Gilbert, 1987; Melus, 1980).
• Make services more relevant (Huff & Kline, 1999b), for example, by adding employment, financial, and legal services (McCaughrin & Howard, 1995) or addressing belief systems about the problem and its treatment.
• Make services easier to use and more accessible (for example, provide transportation and simplify applications) (Aguilar et al., 1991; Comas-Diaz, 1986; Huff & Kline, 199b).
• Use locations where people typically go or congregate for education and referrals (beauty salons, barber shops, places of worship) (Delgado, 1998b; Huff & Kline, 1999b).
• Respected community members and trusted community organizations are important in promoting treatment utilization. 

The number of Hispanics who use folk healers (e.g., curanderos , espiritistas ) or cultural remedies for alcohol or drug problems is not known (Medina, 2001; Trotter & Chivira cited in Gilbert & Cervantes, 1987), but for some they are familiar and easily accessible (Huff & Kline, 1999).  

Involve all community sectors in preventing alcohol and drug problems (Caetano, 1988; Comas-Diaz, 1986; Huff & Kline, 1999; Melus, 1980).

Encouraging youth to remain in school is critical for prevention (Alvarez & Ruiz, 2001).

Suggestions for making prevention efforts culturally relevant include utilizing Spanish language media (Caetano, 1988) and encouraging alcohol-free fiestas (Comas-Diaz, 1986; McQuade, 1986).