PREVENTION ISSUES IN A MULTICULTURAL DEVELOPING-COUNTRY - THE MEXICANCASE

This paper reviews some cultural issues in Mexican society related to alcohol/drug use and misuse. The aim is to provide information that co uld aid in the identification of opportunities and barriers for preven tive actions appropriate to this country. Some of the country's socio- demographic characteristics and a historical overview of alcohol/drug use and misuse are presented, as are also data obtained through differ ent research strategies such as anthropological studies and epidemiolo gical surveys among different populations. An overview of the current preventive interventions and some suggestions to improve conceptualiza tion on alcohol/drug use and misuse for future research and to guide p reventive actions are included.