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. 2016 Jan;106(1):119-27.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302871. Epub 2015 Nov 12.

Substance Use and Cumulative Exposure to American Society: Findings From Both Sides of the US-Mexico Border Region

Guilherme Borges  1 , Cheryl J Cherpitel  1 , Ricardo Orozco  1 , Sarah E Zemore  1 , Lynn Wallisch  1 , Maria-Elena Medina-Mora  1 , Joshua Breslau  1
Affiliations

Substance Use and Cumulative Exposure to American Society: Findings From Both Sides of the US-Mexico Border Region

Guilherme Borges et al. Am J Public Health. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated whether Mexican immigration to the United States exerts transnational effects on substance use in Mexico and the United States.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of 2336 Mexican Americans and 2460 Mexicans in 3 Texas border metropolitan areas and their sister cities in Mexico (the US-Mexico Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions, 2011-2013). We collected prevalence and risk factors for alcohol and drug use; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, alcohol-use disorders; and 2 symptoms (hazardous use and quit or control) of drug use disorder across a continuum of migration experiences in the Mexican and Mexican American populations.

Results: Compared with Mexicans with no migrant experience, the adjusted odds ratios for this continuum of migration experiences ranged from 1.10 to 8.85 for 12-month drug use, 1.09 to 5.07 for 12-month alcohol use disorder, and 1.13 to 9.95 for 12-month drug-use disorder. Odds ratios increased with longer exposure to US society. These findings are consistent with those of 3 previous studies.

Conclusions: People of Mexican origin have increased prevalence of substance use and disorders with cumulative exposure to US society.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Association of Past-Year Any Drug Use With Migration Category: US–Mexico Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions Survey, 2011–2013 Note. Whiskers indicate 95% confidence intervals. Reference category = Mexican without migrant experience. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals adjusted by demographic and mobility variables.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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