Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)


Diplomat Ballroom (Omni Shoreham)

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Substance Abuse Treatment Experience: Blacks, Latinos, Whites

Erick Guerrero, MA, University of Chicago and Jeanne C. Marsh, PhD, University of Chicago.

Background and Purpose: Current research has shown that members of diverse racial and ethnic groups have distinct service needs and responses to substance abuse treatment. However, little is known about the individual characteristics of clients in different racial/ethnic groups or the characteristics of the treatment organizations or services provided to these groups. This study provides the initial descriptive comparisons of treatment organization, service and individual characteristics of Black, Latino and White clients in substance abuse treatment. Methods: The National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES), a prospective, cohort study of substance abuse treatment programs and their clients was analyzed. The analytic sample consisted of 1,812 Blacks, 486 Hispanics, and 844 Whites (1,123 women and 2,019 men). Chi-square tests were used for categorical variables, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were used for continuous variables. Missing values were specified for these comparisons. Results: The data show significant variability in client and organizational characteristics and services received with the greatest differences found between the experiences of Latinos compared with Black and White clients. First, Latinos enter treatment with greater drug use severity and with fewer resources in the form of education and employment history. Second, they are more likely to be served in JCAHO-accredited organizations and less likely to be served in privately-supported programs. In addition, Latinos report a higher probability to be served in organizations with the least number of services offered on site and with the thinnest schedule of substance abuse treatment counseling. Furthermore, while Latino clients are more likely than the other two groups to report receiving access and concrete services, Blacks reported the highest probability to receive substance abuse counseling. But neither Hispanics nor Blacks were as likely as Whites to receive family and mental health counseling. Finally, it was found that treatment duration in Hispanic and Black clients is shorter on average (15 weeks) compared to White clients (19 weeks). Conclusions and Implications: Latino clients had a distinctive experience in the service system. They reported the greatest need coming into treatment, the least amount of services and also reported the shortest duration in treatment compared to Black and White clients. These results reveal the importance of considering race and ethnicity in the design of substance abuse services in order to achieve a system of service delivery that is culturally competent and able to meet the service needs of this minority population.