APA Virtual Program To Examine Substance Use, Risk, and Resilience Among U.S. Latinos

Panelists in a webinar presented by APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity will explore the risk and resilience factors within diverse Hispanic/Latino communities.

The webinar will be held Thursday, February 8, at 7 p.m. ET as part of the APA “Looking Beyond” educational offerings, specifically the “Voices for Change” series. This comprehensive series of webinars and podcasts sheds light on the challenges faced by populations bearing the burden of substance use disorders and mental illness, supporting the theme of APA President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A.

“We are living in a time of great challenges and greater opportunities in terms of the treatment of substance use disorders and the behavioral addictions in our country,” said Levounis. “This webinar series ensures that our member psychiatrists are up to date on the latest in addiction assessment, diagnosis, and treatment and are well-prepared to provide high-quality, culturally competent care to a diverse population of patients.”

The session will be moderated by Héctor Colón-Rivera, M.D., M.B.A., M.R.O., the president of the APA Hispanic Caucus, and will feature a panel of experts including APA member addiction psychiatrists and a representative from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted by SAMHSA, provides insights into the impact of substance use on the mental health of Hispanic/Latino individuals in the United States. The survey data show 2.4 million Hispanic/Latino adults had a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness. Among Hispanic/Latino adults aged 18 to 25, 42.4% used alcohol, and 13.0% had an alcohol use disorder; among those aged 26 or older, 48.9% used alcohol, and 9.5% had an alcohol use disorder. Among youth aged 12 to 17, 8.6% used alcohol in the past month, and 4.4% had an alcohol use disorder.

Promoting help-seeking behaviors among Hispanics/Latinos has implications for addressing SUD. Utilizing NSDUH data from 2014 to 2017, Miguel Pinedo’s analysis indicates that only 5% of Hispanics/Latinos with SUD perceived a need for treatment, and treatment utilization was low, with 83% reporting not using any treatment in the past year. Those who participated in the study were more open or amenable to receiving treatment for a diagnosis such as depression or anxiety and not to treatment for SUD. These findings may help contextualize the implementation of substance abuse and mental health treatment services to address the health needs of Hispanics/Latinos with SUD. Considerations for engaging Hispanic/Latino populations in behavioral health treatment should account for treatment preferences of individuals with multiple conditions into account as a strategy to promote engagement. In addition, the results highlight the importance of documenting differences among Hispanic/Latino subgroups to inform interventions.

Psychiatrists can contribute to addressing the mental health needs of diverse Hispanic/Latino populations by advocating for culturally tailored interventions, addressing structural and psychological barriers to accessing mental health services. ■