Overuse of alcohol is among the top risk factors for chronic diseases, especially among disadvantaged populations such as Latinos.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released its annual report on the state of mental health and substance use in the US.
Based on results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States covers mental health and substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and more.
In part two of our series, we’re going to explore the report and find out how consumption of alcohol impacts Latinos.
Alcohol Use among Latinos
Alcohol consumption and overuse is still a pervasive problem with a reported 134.7 million alcohol users aged 12 or older over the span of a month in 2023, according to the report.
Consumption in the monthly reporting period was highest among those 26 and older at 116.1 million (51.9%) followed by 18- to 25-year-olds at 16.9 million (49.6%) and adolescents (12-17) at 1.8 million or 6.9%.
White (52.3%) and Multiracial individuals (46.5%) were more likely than Black (42.5%), Latino (41.2%), Asian (32.5%), and American Indian or Alaska Native individuals (30%) to consume alcohol over a one-month period.
Among the 134.7 million people who consume alcohol, 61.4 million (45.6%) were considered binge drinkers and 16.4 million (5.8%) were heavy drinkers.
Binge drinking was more prevalent in individuals 26 or older at 50.6 million (22.7%) followed by 18- to 25-year-olds at 9.8 million (28.7%) and 12 to 17 at 1 million (3.9%).
Heavy alcohol use was reported higher among individuals 26 and older (13.9 million or 6.2%) followed by 6.9% or 2.4 million individuals 18 to 25 and 141,000 (.5%) aged 12 to 17.
Those who identify as White were more likely to be heavy alcohol users at 6.7% followed by Black (4.7%), Latino (4.5%), and Asian individuals (2%).
While you must be 21 years old to consume and purchase alcohol, many drink before the legal age.
5.6 million (14.6%) individuals ages 12 to 20 consumed alcoholic beverages over the course of the month. Of that 5.6 million, 3.3 million (8.6%) were binge drinkers and 663,000 (1.7%) admitted to heavy drinking.
Underage drinking was higher among White individuals (17.9%) followed by Multiracial (16.4%), Latino (12.5%), Black (10.6%), Asian (7.6%), American Indian or Alaska Native individuals (5.8%).
Binge drinking had a higher prevalence in underage White individuals (10.7%) followed by Latino (7.7%), Black (5.9%), American Indian or Alaska Native (4.3%), and Asian individuals (2.3%).
Heavy drinking impacted 2.2% White, 1.4% Latino, 0.6% Black, and 0.2% Asian underage individuals.
What’s more, 4.2 million individuals out of 134.7 million began consuming alcohol in the last year.
People aged 18 to 25 were most susceptible at 2.3 million while 3.1 million had alcohol before reaching the age of 21.
Alcohol Use among Latinos
Overuse of alcohol can cause disastrous consequences to your health.
Excessive or frequent alcohol use can lead to major disorders and increase your risk for developing chronic diseases such as cancer and fatty liver disease.
Both diseases are known to disproportionately affect Latinos.
Alcohol use can also include impaired driving, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease, which can lead to medical conditions like liver cirrhosis and may need to be treated with a transplant.
Alcohol use has gone up since the pandemic, impacting thousands of Americans.
COVID-19 brought about 8,000 additional deaths from alcohol-related liver disease, 18,700 cases of liver failure, and lead to 1,000 cases of liver cancer by 2040, according to a Salud America! report.
What’s more, alcohol-related deaths have been trending upward over the last few years.
In fact, between 2019 and 2020, deaths from alcohol use rose 25.5%, resulting in 99,107 deaths, according to a 2022 study.
When it comes to alcohol and Latinos, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) found that Latinos who drink are more likely to do so in higher volumes than Whites.
While excessive alcohol consumption has increased by 39% across all demographics, the 2022 study found that Latina women were among those with the largest increases with an average consumption of 148%.
When compared to their white peers, more Latinos have never had one drink, however, 33% of these Latinos will have recurrent or persistent problems with alcohol.
Addressing the Overuse of Alcohol
In recent years, cities across the country have taken measures to curb the purchase and consumption of beverages with high sugar and calorie content, including alcohol.
One such measure is placing a higher tax on these beverages. For alcohol, these taxes aim to lower alcohol intake for men to one to two drinks a day and lower health risks associated with alcohol.
To further this cause, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee are asking for public comment as they prepare to make changes to the dietary guidelines.
Submit a model comment created by Salud America! to urge lower added sugar and alcohol intake in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans through Oct. 1, 2024!
When seeking help for alcohol overuse, Latinos have fewer resources, opportunities, and more barriers to overcome.
“Hispanics also are less likely to join Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), even though AA groups are available for free and in Spanish,” the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports.
One resource to help Latinos is Talk. They Hear You./Hable. Ellos Escuchan. This is an underage drinking prevention campaign through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
There is also National Prevention Week, which raises awareness about substance use prevention and the importance of maintaining good mental health.
Other actions to combat excessive alcohol consumption come from CDC:
- Regulation of Alcohol Outlet Density
- Increasing Alcohol Taxes
- Dram Shop Liability
- Maintaining Limits on Hours of Sale
- Enhanced Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Sales to Minors
CDC also supports Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention (ASBI) for those who are struggling with alcohol and opioids.
Explore the Health of Your Community
How can we improve public health?
Start by examining the health equity in your own backyard.
Download a free Health Equity Report Card from Salud America! today to see where your community stands on access to healthy foods, exposure to harmful toxins and chemicals, poverty, education, and more.
Use the helpful maps, charts, and graphs to identify issues and guide your community toward health equity.
The information can be compared to the rest of your state or the country.
Share it on social media, with friends and loved ones, and/or your local community leaders and fight for health equity where you live!
GET YOUR HEALTH EQUITY REPORT CARD!
The post The State of Alcohol Use Among Latinos appeared first on Salud America.
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