Alcohol Use and Problem Drinking Among Male Mexican and Central American Im/migrant Laborers

Abstract

This review addresses a growing concern regarding alcohol use in adult male Latino im/migrant laborers in the United States. The review draws from alcohol studies focusing on "Hispanic" populations, and from health behavior studies of Latino im/migrant laborers, research that includes alcohol use. Specifically, this review addresses (a) alcohol consumption and drinking patterns among Mexican and Central American im/migrant laborers, and (b) health and social consequences of alcohol use. After reviewing more than 200 articles, 30 studies meeting key criteria were selected for review. Survey data show lower alcohol use in Latino im/migrants as compared with U.S. Latino and non-Latino populations, but also a relation between problem drinking and acculturation. Ethnographic research reveals heavy drinking and negative health and social consequences in a significant number of Latino im/migrant laborers. How structural-environmental and culture-based factors combine to influence problem drinking in the United States is discussed along with recommendations for future research.

The Role of Social Support and Acculturative Stress in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Day Laborers in Northern San Diego

“…Importantly, the cross sectional nature of this study and the non-inclusion of unhealthy behavior measures could have explained the inverse relationship found between our physical and mental health outcomes. For example, alcohol abuse is well established as a causal factor of decreased levels in both physical and mental health, while its abuse has been found to be widely associated among day laborer groups [38]. Lastly, this study did not incorporate a control group of non-day labor Mexican subjects or those in other employment sectors.…”

Development and Preliminary Testing of a Promotora - Delivered, Spanish Language, Counseling Intervention for Heavy Drinking among Male, Latino Day Laborers

“…Day laborers are usually socially and economically disadvantaged, Spanish speaking, immigrant, Latino men, who may be at high risk for unhealthy drinking given their stressors including discrimination, undocumented status, language barriers, low income, low acculturation, under employment and isolation from their families (Valenzuela, 2002; Valenzuela, 2003, Galvan et al 2015). Indeed, a number of studies have identified heavy drinking as a problem in this population (Organista & Kubo, 2005; Worby & Organista, 2007; Ornelas, Eng, & Perreira, 2011; Worby & Organista, 2013; Worby et al, 2014). …”

Methamphetamine and Cocaine Use among Mexican Migrants in California: The California-Mexico Epidemiological Surveillance Pilot

“…Over time, environmental and behavioral factors may increase the opportunities for HIV-infected individuals to enter into Latino migrant sexual networks, and migrant communities could experience higher rates of HIV infection and transmission (Apostolopoulos et al, 2006;Rangel et al, 2006;Worby & Organista, 2007). Methamphetamine and cocaine use promotes opportunities for becoming infected with HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and, more recently, among men who have sex with women, particularly through unprotected anal and vaginal intercourse and unprotected intercourse with a new partner (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2006;Compton, Lamb, & Fletcher, 1995;Mansergh et al, 2006;Molitor, Truax, Ruiz, & Sun, 1998;Zule, Costenbader, Meyer, & Wechsberg, 2007).…”