SUBSTANCE USE AMONG TEXAS HISPANICS AND NON-HISPANICS - WHOS USING, WHOS NOT, AND WHY

The prevalence of past-year and lifetime substance use, problem indica tors, and the most important reasons for abstaining (among nonusers) w ere compared between Texas Hispanics and non-Hispanics, as well as amo ng three subgroups of Hispanics who represented different levels of ac culturation: Mexican born (i.e., least acculturated), U.S. born but re latively unacculturated, and U.S. born/highly acculturated, In general , prevalence rates among Hispanics increased as a function of U.S. acc ulturation, with the most acculturated group's rates mom closely resem bling non-Hispanics than Mexican-born Hispanics. There were also signi ficant variations by level of acculturation in the reasons given for a bstinence. Whereas health was the most commonly cited reason for absti nence regardless of ethnicity, other important reasons (e.g., moral re asons versus influence of family and friends) varied significantly by ethnicity and acculturation. Results are interpreted with special rega rd to prevention.