Substance Abuse Risk Factors Affecting the Hispanic Population in the United States

Abstract

According to the United States census report, the Hispanic population is the number one minority and ethnic group in the United States. Risk factors most commonly associated with the substance-abusing Hispanic population are related to community, family, school, and individual/peer influences. The bulk of research concerning substance abuse risk factors among the Hispanic population focused on the Hispanic population in Texas, Arizona, New York, California, and Florida. There is limited information discussed about Hispanics and substance use/abuse in North Carolina. This limitation may pose threats to the effectiveness of model programs being replicated and generalizability due to differences in culture. Research is needed in the study of Hispanic substance use/abuse in rural areas of the country.

KEYWORDS:

• Hispanic
• substance abuse
• risk factors