Broadening the base of treatment for alcohol problems: a report which deserves to be debated. Broadening alcohol treatment in the US

DSM-IV alcohol dependence and drug abuse/dependence in a treatment sample of whites, blacks and Mexican Americans

This paper examines the association between DSM-IV alcohol dependence, drug use and DSM-IV drug/abuse dependence in a sample of White (n = 256), Black (n = 263) and Mexican American (n = 212) men consecutively admitted to five alcohol treatment programs in a Northern California county. Results show that drug use is higher among Blacks and Mexican Americans than among Whites. About 35% of the Whites 43% of the Blacks and 35% of the Mexican Americans are both alcohol and drug dependent. Among alcohol dependent individuals, about 44% of the Whites, 72% of the blacks and 52% of the Mexican Americans report using at least one drug other than alcohol once a week or more in the 12 months previous to the interview. The drug most frequently used by Whites is marijuana, followed by cocaine and amphetamines. The drug most frequently used by Blacks and Mexican Americans is cocaine, followed by marijuana. Severity of drug dependence is inversely related to severity of alcohol dependence among Whites. Alcohol treatment programs for Whites, Blacks and Mexican Americans must offer assessment, treatment matching and relapse prevention that takes into consideration this high prevalence of drug use and dependence.

Priorities for alcohol treatment research among U.S. Hispanics

This article reviews the clinical research conducted with U.S. Hispanics and discusses priorities for alcohol treatment research in this ethnic group. Specific areas in which research is needed include epidemiological descriptions of client characteristics, access and utilization of alcohol treatment, the structure of alcohol programs, pathways to treatment, alcohol dependence and treatment effectiveness, and treatment matching in alcohol treatment. Methodological requirements, research funding strategies, and professional training needed for implementing the research needs identified in the article are also discussed. A concerted effort by funding institutions is needed to emphasize the importance of this research, and an increased commitment of funds for research and professional training is necessary. Such funds should be earmarked for research with minorities and training for minority professionals.