Drug and alcohol use among rural Mexican-Americans.

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on drug and alcohol use among rural Mexican-Americans. Given the lack of empirical data on substance use among this population, the review was expanded to include adult alcohol use in rural areas of Mexico and the United States and in urban areas of the United States. This chapter focuses on sociocultural factors (gender, community norms, family traditionalism, and acculturation) associated with drug and alcohol use among rural Mexican-Americans by presenting an integrative analysis of factors related to the risks of drug use. The interrelationship between levels of acculturation and levels of family traditionalism as they relate to the risks of drug abuse is also examined. Finally, suggestions are offered for future research and for preventive interventions applicable to rural Mexican-American populations.