Online Program

295011
Substance use and social capital among recent Latino immigrants in south Florida


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Elena Cyrus, MPH, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatisticss, Florida International University, Robert Stempel School of Public Health and Social Work, Miami, FL
Mary Jo Trepka, MD, MSPH, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Tan Li, PhD, Biostatistics, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Mario De La Rosa, PhD, Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL
Erica Gollub, DrPH, Epidemiology, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Kristopher P. Fennie, MPH, PhD, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Patria Rojas, PhD, CRUSADA, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Background: Recent Latino immigrants (RLIs)in the U.S. for 3 years or less have acculturation-related stress which can lead to changes in social capital and substance-use. There may be an association between the changes in social capital and substance-use among RLIs over time.

Methods: Longitudinal study of 527 RLIs with 2 years follow-up. Social capital was assessed through an assets inventory measuring community engagement. AUDIT questionnaire for alcohol and a ‘timeline followback' method for illicit drugs were used to assess substance-use. To analyze changes, paired t-tests and McNemar tests were performed with SPSS 18. To explore associations over time, a generalized linear model (PROC GENMOD SAS 9.3) was used

Results: Post-immigration, social capital and hazardous drinking decreased (p˂.001, p=.001).Females were 70% less likely to engage in hazardous drinking (p˂.001), and 41.2% less likely to engage in illicit drug use (p=.01). After adjusting for gender and marital status, on average, individuals with a one-unit increase in ‘friend & other social capital' were 29.6% less likely to engage in illicit drug use (p=.02); individuals with a one-unit increase in business social capital were 60% more likely to engage in illicit drug use (p=.02)

Conclusions: Post-immigration, males are more likely to engage in substance-use. Over time, individuals with less ‘friend & other' social capital, are more likely to engage in illicit drug use; individuals with higher business social capital are more likely to engage in illicit drug use. When developing interventions/treatment, public health programs should incorporate these social capital components that may affect risk.

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe changes in social capital and substance use (alcohol and illicit drugs) among recent Latino immigrants (RLIs) in South Florida pre to post immigration. Explore the association between social capital and substance-use over time.

Keyword(s): Substance Abuse Assessment, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a co-author on the abstract, and have been research HIV behavior among recent Latino immigrants for over five years
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.