Policies and Laws Affecting Mexican-Origin Immigrant Access and Utilization of Substance Abuse Treatment: Obstacles to Recovery and Immigrant Health

Abstract

This article reports the results of a study carried out with 30 Mexican-origin immigrants in drug user treatment in the United States-Mexico Border city of El Paso, Texas during 2007. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were implemented to assess the dynamic social and economic factors that affect the delivery and utilization of treatment services, with emphasis on the impact of recent immigration-related laws and policies. The research provides initial data for evidence-based intervention and reinforces the need for culturally and gender appropriate treatment services for poor immigrants and their families. The study's limitations are noted.

Keywords:

• United States-Mexico Border
• drug user treatment
• Mexican-origin immigrants
• immigration policies

Acknowledgments

This article reports the results of a pilot study: Impact of Recent Laws and Policies on Mexican-origin Immigrants' Access and Utilization of Substance Use Treatment in El Paso County, supported by Dr. Robert L. Anders, Dean, School of Nursing, University of Texas at El Paso, and the Center for Border Health Research, with guidance from Dr. Sherry Deren (National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.), and Dr. Sofia Gruskin (Harvard School of Public Health).

The study would not have been possible without the contributions of outstanding local substance user service directors, providers, and clients in treatment. We especially acknowledge the collaboration of Chilo L. Madrid, PhD, LCDC, CEO (Aliviane, Inc.), Robert Oberton (Aliviane Drug Abuse Service Center), Lydia Ortega (Inner Recovery Center for Women), Armando Salas (Inner Resources Recovery Center for Men), and their excellent staff for their willingness to provide guidance and access to their programs. This speaks of their commitment to services and learning.

We are extremely grateful to the participants who shared their knowledge, experience, and advice.

Notes

¹ The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.

² The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.

³ Treatment can be briefly and usefully defined as a planned, goal directed change process, which is bounded (culture, place, time, etc.) and can be categorized into professional-based, tradition-based, mutual help-based (AA, NA, etc.) and self-help (“natural recovery”) models. There are no unique models or techniques used with substance users- of whatever types, which are not also used with nonsubstance users. In the West, with the relatively new ideology of “harm reduction” and the even newer Quality of Life (QOL) treatment-driven model, there are now a new set of goals in addition to those derived from/associated with the older tradition of abstinence-driven models. Editor's note.