Alcohol use among recent Latino immigrants before and after immigration to the United States

Background: U.S. born Latinos have higher rates of alcohol use than Latinos who have immigrated to the U.S. However, little is known about pre-immigration drinking patterns of Latino immigrants and whether alcohol use rates change during post-immigration life in the U.S. This longitudinal study compares regular, binge, and heavy alcohol use patterns of young adult Latino immigrants 90-days prior to immigration with post-immigration alcohol use patterns.  Methods: Data on alcohol use prior to immigration were retrospectively collected from 527 Latino immigrants living in the U.S. for 12 months or less with the intention of staying for two or more years. Follow-up assessments of 415 participants occurred between their second and third years of living in the U.S.; yielding 79% retention rate for this hard to reach population. Results: Regular alcohol use patterns prior to immigration were statistically equivalent to that of post-immigration reports. Binge alcohol use (5 or more drinks on the same occasion during the past 90 days) significantly declined during the post-immigration period, particularly for Latina women. Heavy alcohol use (5 or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days during the past 90 days) also significantly decreased. Discussion:  Results suggest a need for continued exploration of the pre-immigration drinking patterns of Latinos in the U.S.  Findings also inform our conceptual understanding of Latino immigrant health [e.g., health immigrant effect] while suggesting the need for more research to uncover underlying factors associated with declines in rates of problematic alcohol use after immigration.