Country of origin, age of drinking onset, and drinking patterns among Mexican American young adults
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Article in Press, Corrected Proof 12 July 2007



This study examines relationships between country of origin, age of drinking onset, and adverse drinking outcomes among young adult Mexican Americans in the 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).

Adjusted analyses indicate the odds of adverse drinking outcomes decreased as age of drinking onset increased.

Mexican Americans who initiated drinking in Mexico had significantly lower odds of current or lifetime harmful drinking than U.S. born but the odds were not significantly different between foreign-born Mexican Americans who initiated drinking in the U.S. and U.S. born.

Irrespective of whether drinking onset was in Mexico or the U.S., foreign-born Mexican Americans had lower odds of alcohol abuse than U.S. born.

However, odds of dependence were not significantly different between foreign-born and U.S.-born Mexican Americans.

While findings suggest that being foreign born may be protective, further research on social and cultural factors impacting drinking onset and related outcomes among young Mexican Americans may help inform prevention efforts.

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Reprint Request E-Mail: lstrunin@bu.edu
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