Abstract
Cocaine use disproportionately affects several social groups, including ethnic and sexual minorities. The present study sought to identify the epidemiology of cocaine use among a national sample of Hispanic young adults using pooled data from the 2015–2018 National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Weighted analyses were used to identify correlates to past-year cocaine use. Results revealed that 4.11% (n = 729) of individuals used cocaine in the past year. Individuals who identified as gay/lesbian or bisexual, who drove under the influence of alcohol in the past year, and who reported prior drug use were at risk of cocaine use. Of concern, nearly 10% of gay/lesbian Hispanic individuals report having used cocaine in the past year. Furthermore, cocaine use was associated with other risky behaviors; 41.1% of LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) users also reported cocaine use, and 18.2% of cocaine users reported having driven under the influence of alcohol within the past year. Findings from the present study may inform harm reduction efforts and health prevention messages.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 105-111 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Hispanic Health Care International |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2021 |
Keywords
- Hispanic Americans
- cocaine
- harm reduction
- prevention