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Promising Intervention and Measurement Directions for Substance Use Treatment Research Among Hispanics

Authors:
Mariana Sanchez at Florida International University
Mariana Sanchez
Lissette Saavedra at RTI International
Lissette Saavedra
Alyssa Lozano
Alyssa Lozano
Alyssa Lozano
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Antonio A. Morgan-López at RTI International
Antonio A. Morgan-López
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Abstract

Purpose of review This review highlights recent efforts to understand and eliminate longstanding disparities in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment among Hispanics through new intervention and measurement directions with this population. Recent Findings Emerging research underscores culturally responsive trauma-informed care as a key strategy to eliminate disparities in health and treatment quality among Hispanics. Developing interventions that align with the cultural worldviews, ideologies, and values of Hispanics are likely to bolster substance use treatment outcomes in this population. While emerging evidence indicates that mindfulness-based approaches hold such promise, more rigorous research that includes Hispanic samples is warranted. There is also a need to maximize precision in measurement in addiction science. This article provides a brief background and discussion of how research teams are using innovative approaches within and outside of the addictions field to better understand symptom presentations in diverse understudied populations as an important practice in more equitable research. Summary Emerging research in the areas of intervention and measurement can help addiction clinicians and researchers get closer to providing acceptable interventions that engage Hispanics while maximizing precision in characterizing screening for equitable treatment inclusion and monitoring of individual patient outcomes and ultimately treatment outcomes.
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Vol:.(1234567890)
Current Addiction Reports (2024) 11:492–500
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-024-00567-x
Promising Intervention andMeasurement Directions forSubstance
Use Treatment Research Among Hispanics
MarianaSanchez1,5· LissetteSaavedra2· AlyssaLozano3· AntonioMorgan‑López2· HortensiaAmaro1,4
Accepted: 11 March 2024 / Published online: 2 April 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024
Abstract
Purpose of review This review highlights recent efforts to understand and eliminate longstanding disparities in substance
use disorder (SUD) treatment among Hispanics through new intervention and measurement directions with this population.
Recent Findings Emerging research underscores culturally responsive trauma-informed care as a key strategy to eliminate
disparities in health and treatment quality among Hispanics. Developing interventions that align with the cultural world-
views, ideologies, and values of Hispanics are likely to bolster substance use treatment outcomes in this population. While
emerging evidence indicates that mindfulness-based approaches hold such promise, more rigorous research that includes
Hispanic samples is warranted. There is also a need to maximize precision in measurement in addiction science. This article
provides a brief background and discussion of how research teams are using innovative approaches within and outside of
the addictions field to better understand symptom presentations in diverse understudied populations as an important practice
in more equitable research.
Summary Emerging research in the areas of intervention and measurement can help addiction clinicians and researchers get
closer to providing acceptable interventions that engage Hispanics while maximizing precision in characterizing screening
for equitable treatment inclusion and monitoring of individual patient outcomes and ultimately treatment outcomes.
Keywords Hispanics/Latinx· Substance use treatment· Health disparities· Mindfulness· Measurement
Introduction
Disparities in substance use disorders (SUD) treatment
among individuals who identify as Hispanic/Latino/Latinx
have become a significant public health issue in the U.S.
[1, 2]. Indeed, Hispanics/Latinos/Latinx (herein referred
to as Hispanics) with SUD have lower utilization rates, are
less likely overall to complete SUD treatment [3, 4], experi-
ence greater barriers to accessing treatment services, and
have less satisfaction with treatment compared to Whites
[3]. Even when controlling for health insurance and other
sociodemographic factors, Hispanics are less likely to seek
SUD in/outpatient services within hospitals, rehabilitation
facilities, or mental health centers [2]. These longstanding
disparities underscore the need for greater attention to the
integration of Hispanics in SUD research that identifies
barriers and effective strategies for reducing disparities in
SUD treatment in this population [5]. The underutilization
of treatment services among Hispanics has been consistently
linked to cultural factors (e.g., lack of culturally congru-
ent services) and migration-related concerns [2, 3, 6, 7].
Mariana Sanchez and Lissette Saavedra are joint first authors.
* Mariana Sanchez
msanche@fiu.edu
1 Department ofHealth Promotion andDisease Prevention,
Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
2 Center forBehavioral Health andWell-being, RTI
International, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, NC, USA
3 Division ofPrevention Science andCommunity Health
intheMiller School’s Department ofPublic Health Sciences,
University ofMiami, Miami, FL, USA
4 Herbert Wertheim College ofMedicine, Florida International
University, Miami, FL, USA
5 Center forResearch onUS Latinos HIV/AIDS andDrug
Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University,
Miami, FL, USA
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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