Following our deeply informative and inspiring October webinar on Hispanic heritage month, we wanted to share more info on the month, and it’s connection the recovery world.
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean.
In 1968, Congress set aside a week for this observance and two decades later expanded it to a month stretching from September 15 to October 15. The timing is historically significant as September 15 is the anniversary of independence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence September 16 and September 18, respectively.
Hispanic Americans are one of the fastest growing segments of the United States population. The U.S. Bureau of the Census estimates that there are 63.7 million people of Hispanic origin (as of July 1, 2022) living in the United States, comprising 19.1% of the total population.
This makes it the nation’s second largest racial or ethnic group, behind White Americans and ahead of Black Americans (U.S. Census Bureau). It is also one of the fastest growing groups in the U.S. Between 2010 and 2020, the country’s Hispanic population grew 23%, up from 50.5 million in 2010 (the Asian population grew faster over the same decade). Since 1970, when Hispanics made up 5% of the U.S. population and numbered 9.6 million, the Hispanic population has grown more than sixfold. (Pew Research Center)
With the Hispanic population is expected to increase to over 30% of the population by 2050 (Ennis, S. R., Rios-Vargas, M., & Albert, N. G. 2011) it is imperative that we address any substance abuse and addiction treatment disparities currently experienced by these individuals.
Culturally competent practice is broadly acknowledged to be an important strategy to increase the quality of services for racial/ethnic minorities in substance abuse treatment.
According to the American Addiction Center, Hispanic Americans experience greater consequences of their abuse of substances compared to than their non-Hispanic counterparts.
Studies show that Hispanic Americans have less access to substance abuse treatment and must wait longer to access such services when compared to non-Hispanics (Wells, K., Klap, R., Koike, A., & Sherbourne, C. 2001).
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 91% of Hispanic Americans with a substance use disorder are unable to receive the treatment that they need at a specialty facility (such as substance abuse rehabilitation centers). And those who do receive treatment do not fare as well as the rest of the population, as studies show that Hispanic Americans have poorer outcomes in substance abuse treatment programs. (Chartier, K.G., Carmody, T., Akhtar, M., Stebbins, M.B., Walters, S.T., & Warden, D. 2016).
According to American Addiction Centers, some of the disparities in treatment that occur within the Hispanic community can be resolved through increased availability of culturally sensitive treatment programs.
Their strong recommendations of key features to be incorporated into treatment programs tailored for Hispanics include the offering of bilingual or exclusively Spanish speaking activities and acknowledgment of Hispanic cultural values such as family structures, gender roles, personal relationships, respect, spirituality, and religion. (Alvarez, J., Jason, L.A., Olson, B.D., Ferrari, J.R., & Davis, M.I. (2007).
It is agreed widely in the health care field that an individual’s culture is a critical factor to be considered in treatment. The Surgeon General’s report, Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, states, “Substantive data from consumer and family self-reports, ethnic match, and ethnic-specific services outcome studies suggest that tailoring services to the specific needs of these [ethnic] groups will improve utilization and outcomes” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2001).
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) calls on clinicians to understand how their relationship with the client is affected by cultural differences and sets up a framework for reviewing the effects of culture on each client.
It goes on to say that because verbal communication and the therapeutic alliance are distinguishing features of treatment for both substance use and mental disorders, the issue of culture is significant for treatment in both fields. The therapeutic alliance should be informed by the clinician’s understanding of the client’s cultural identity, social supports, self-esteem, and reluctance about treatment resulting from social stigma.
A common theme in culturally competent care is that the treatment provider—not the person seeking treatment—is responsible for ensuring that treatment is effective for diverse clients. (Davis, M.I. 2007)
To learn more about what’s working and what’s next for addiction in the Hispanic/Latino community, please join our webinar on October 24th at Noon. Click here to register.