BACKGROUND: Both alcohol abuse and heavy smoking have been associated with higher risk of cancer and coronary heart diseases among other illnesses. Reducing these behaviors among women is especially important given the empirical evidence suggesting (a) biological bases for women's higher sensitivity to tobacco-induced lung cancer compared to men, even at lower levels of exposure and (b) links between alcohol and tobacco and breast cancer and osteoporosis. Whereas research on adolescents' and older adults' substance use has been increasing, few studies focus on multiple substance use among childbearing-age women, especially minorities. Although evidence links genetics to substance consumption, social factors such as ethnicity, SES, and psychosocial factors (social integration, locus of control, health and economic worries) are also strongly related. We examine associations between these social factors and combined use of alcohol and tobacco among ethnically diverse women. METHODS: We analyze baseline data collected as part of a cognitive behavioral intervention project in Miami, FL (1994-5) aimed at preventing high-risk behaviors among low-income adult women (26% Black, 33% White, 41% Hispanic) at risk of HIV. RESULTS: Ethnic group-specific multivariate analyses based on baseline data from 552 women suggest that associations between socio-demographic variables, psychosocial factors and combined use vary by ethnicity. CONCLUSION: Changing risks behaviors entails taking cultural context into account as widely different cross-national rates of smoking and alcohol abuse show. Substance use interventions should address the clustering of addicting behaviors, their compounded effect on health and the increased difficulty of stopping or reducing multiple addictions.
Learning Objectives: After listening to the reading of this paper, the participant will be able to identify social factors associated with combined use of alcohol and tobacco among women of different ethnic backgrounds. Participants will recognize the importance of addressing contextual and cultural factors in health interventions
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Tobacco
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.