Drug and Alcohol Use among Rural Mexican-Americans.

Very little research has examined drug and alcohol use among rural Mexican-Americans, and the few existing studies have yielded mixed results. Some authors have suggested that substance use by Mexican-American youth is similar to that of Anglo youth, but at least one study has shown that Mexican-American females use drugs at a higher rate than do Anglo females. Because rural Mexican-Americans are more likely than urban residents to hold traditional beliefs and values about the family, including distinct gender role definitions, drug use for some young Mexican-American women may be a form of rebellion against oppressive cultural expectations for female behavior. In the past, traditional family values were associated with lower substance use, whereas problematic drug and alcohol use were associated with higher levels of acculturation. Ironically, whereas rural Mexican-American adults are generally less acculturated and more traditional, putting them at low risk for substance abuse, their children may be at high risk as the result of the combined effects of rebellion against traditional behavioral expectations, rapid acculturation, and the experience of generational and cultural conflicts. The existing literature suggests differing levels of risk and cultural orientations requiring different types of preventive interventions to address problems of substance use among various groups of rural Mexican-Americans. Recommendations for future research are presented. (Contains 90 references.) (TD)