August 3, 2010
by Marissa Cevallos
Hispanic-American adults drink less than the average American (46.1 percent versus 55.2 percent), according to a new survey.
The group also use drugs less (6.6 versus 7.9 percent) but are slightly more likely to binge drink (26.3 versus 24.5 percent).
Substance use is lower in Hispanics even when income is taken into account.
Hispanic-Americans in poverty drink less (31.1 versus 39.8 percent), do drugs less (5.9 percent versus 11.7), and binge drink less (21.3 versus 25.2) than other Americans in poverty, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The survey included responses from 32,000 Hispanic-American adults between 2004 and 2008.
The study revealed large variations between Hispanic subgroups: for example, Hispanics from Spain drink the most often, while Puerto-Ricans hit the bottle the hardest. Here’s how several demographics line up:
Binge drinking
Puerto Rican: 28.7 percent
Mexican: 27.6
Spanish: 26.6
Two or more: 25.8
Dominican: 23.8
Cuban: 22.4
Central or South American: 20.8
Drug use
Spanish: 13.1 percent
Two or more: 10.7
Puerto Rican: 9.8
Cuban: 6.2
Mexican: 6.0
Central or South American: 4.7
Dominican: 3.9
Source: Orlando Sentinel
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