The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41455

Myriam Hamdallah, MS, MPH¹, Rosa Merello, PhD², and Aida Penate, BA¹. (1) Research and Evaluation, SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345, (301)468-2600 ext. 5033, mhamdall@aed.org, (2) Division of Prevention Application and Education, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 5515 Security Lane, Rockwall II, Ste 800, Rockville, MD 20852

Hispanics and are the fastest growing minority, comprising 12.5% of the United States population. They also exhibit a disproportionately higher prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and marijuana use as compared to other ethnic groups. In light of these trends, and in response to a documented a lack of materials on substance abuse prevention targeting this population, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention developed, through formative research, the Hablemos en Confianza materials for parents and caregivers, and Vamos a Jugar, an activity book for younger children, as part of a broader Hispanic/Latino Initiative. Distribution of materials through the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information commenced in October 1999, and is ongoing. To evaluate various aspects of the usefulness and cultural adequacy of the materials, two instruments were designed; one aimed at parents, the other at prevention/treatment professionals. Respondents were called four to six weeks after placing an order and were interviewed if they had used the materials. The survey was conducted from March – December 2001, with 820 completed questionnaires. Results indicate that the majority of respondents found the various components of the kit and the activity book to be culturally competent, clear and easy to understand. The materials helped raise awareness in parents/caregivers about the potential communication problems with their children regarding substance use/abuse matters, prompted parents/caregivers to communicate with their children about substance abuse and increased their capacity to communicate with youth. Implications and limitations of the study will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify SAMHSA’s first substance abuse prevention materials created specifically for the Hispanic community through formative research.
• Develop and conduct a bilingual survey to evaluate success of the materials, based on stated goals and objectives.
• Utilize survey results to make assessments and recommendations, recognizing strengths and weaknesses.

Keywords: Hispanic Youth, Substance Abuse Prevention

Related Web page: www.health.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
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.