Abstract
We identify the prevalence and correlates of posttraumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms and their relationship to alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD/SUD) among Latino immigrants in two countries. A screening battery assessing PTSD symptoms (PCL-C), alcohol use (AUDIT), drug abuse (DAST), and psychological measures was administered to 562 Latino immigrants recruited in clinics. We used logistical regression analyses to evaluate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and AUD/SUD. Prevalence of elevated PTSD symptoms was high (53.7 % in Boston, 47.9 % in Madrid and, 43.8 % in Barcelona). Screening positive for psychological measures was significantly correlated to screening positive on the PCL-C (p < 0.001). Significant gender differences in risk of AUD/SUD were moderated by PTSD symptoms. Presence of any PTSD symptoms predicted problems with benzodiazepine misuse. Given the high rates of co-morbidity between PTSD symptoms and AUD/SUD, we recommend early interventions for dual pathology for Latino immigrants with trauma history.
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Work supported by NIDA Grant 5R01DA034952-02; NIMH supplement 3R01MH100155-01S1. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
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The study was approved by the institutional review boards of the Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, MA, the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA, the Fundación Jimenez Diaz in Madrid and Vall D’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona.
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Ramos, Z., Fortuna, L.R., Porche, M.V. et al. Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and their Relationship to Drug and Alcohol use in an International Sample of Latino Immigrants. J Immigrant Minority Health 19, 552–561 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0426-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0426-y