Hispanic Parents Understand Need for Drug Education

by: Mike Miller
5/19/2019

Here at onlinedrugclass.com our goal is first and foremost to keep our kids from using and abusing recreational drugs. In our last blog entry we looked at the pervasive use among Hispanic teens. On the bright side, Hispanic parents are leading the way by setting a good example for their children.

Hispanic adults and drug abuse As reported in voxxi.com.

It may seem as though, if Hispanic teens are at the top of the list for drug abuse, they would also be at the top of the list for drug abuse as adults; however, this is not the case. According to the most recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report, as Hispanics age, their rate of drug abuse drops below the national average for adults.

Differences based on Hispanic subgroup and immigration status also play a role in Hispanic substance abuse.

Among Hispanic adults, substance use varied greatly by subgroup; past month illicit drug use, for example, ranged from a high of 13.1 percent among adults of Spanish origin (from Spain) to a low of 3.9 percent among those of Dominican origin.

Among Hispanic adolescents, substance use also varied by Hispanic subgroup; past month alcohol use, for example, ranged from 21.6 percent among Spanish adolescents to 13.8 percent among Puerto Rican adolescents.”

The study found Hispanic adults born in the United States had higher rates of past month substance use than Hispanic adults who were not born in the United States, and among Hispanic adolescents, those who were born in the United States had higher rates of past month cigarette use, alcohol use, and marijuana use than those who were not born in the United States.

As a counselor for both in-class and online drug classes I have often espoused that parents are the key to reversing drug abuse. I understand the impact of peer pressure, but there is nothing stronger than strong parental role models and parental involvement. I look forward to hearing your input.