1. Immigration and Substance Abuse: A look at Gender, Documentation
Status and Length of Stay within the United States for Hispanic Immigrants
By: Tylaer Van Noller
Southern New Hampshire University
July 2015

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Problem Statement
The focus of my project will be substance abuse and immigration. I plan to explore how
issues with immigration and acclimation to a new culture may lead to substance abuse issues for
recently immigrated individuals. This study will examine assimilation, immigration, and the
possible causes for substance abuse within Central American immigrant populations post
immigration. The focus will be on examining specific factors that may lead to substance abuse
within the first five years of immigrating. Additional focus will examine length of stay in new
culture or if gender variables have any effect on substance abuse behaviors.
My work is with a rapidly growing immigrating population, and I believe it is important,
we understand how immigration and acclimation will affect this population in the future. I am
interested in creating ways to provide more culturally diverse advertisement resources and
treatment for substance abuse for newly acclimated families. I plan to gather information on
substance abuse in immigrant populations, as well as information on the psychology of
immigration and its effect on future populations. My research question aims to explore does
more time spent within the U.S. negatively impact substance abuse, and can variables such as
gender, and documentation status negatively impact substance abuse within the first five years of
immigration?
Hypothesis
The hypothesis of this study will be, if length of stay, documentation status or gender
negatively impact Hispanic immigrant populations, than this will affect the prevalence of
substance abuse in recently immigrated families. Specifically we plan to view the difference
between Latino men versus women, and if their roles and exposure to the community may affect
how they acclimate and thrive within their new communities.

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As in the substance abuse treatment dataset, this project aims to use information collected
to assist treatment centers to understand unique immigration and acclimation challenges so
sufficient resources will be provided to all populations experiencing substance abuse post-
immigration.
The main focus is to understand the effect of immigration on families, and substance
abuse. There is a recent increase in the studying and analyzing of immigrant populations as the
number of individuals fleeing to the U.S. has dramatically increased. The responsibility of the
psychological community is to understand how this population will be affected by family
separation and other traumatic issues that will influence these individuals and their children in
the future. It is also the responsibility of the psychological community to be aware of the
growing need for bilingual services, treatment programs and facilities for acclimating families.
Literature Review
Psychologists are, and increasingly will be serving immigrant adults and children in a
variety of settings, including schools, community centers, clinics, and hospitals, and thus should
be aware of this complex demographic transformation (APA, 2013). I have incorporated studies
that explore the challenges of immigration, the psychology of immigration and the negative
effects of discrimination or perceived discrimination while acclimating. The rise of substance
abuse within many immigrant populations as they remain within the U.S. and studies examining
the challenges of immigration explain the risks and benefits of immigration.
This study will focus on the rapidly growing Latino immigrant population. “The
escalation of alcohol use among Latino immigrants as their time in the United States increases is
a well-documented phenomenon” (Sanchez & Blackson, 2014, p.990). But will mention the

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effect of perceived discrimination and acculturation issues for multiple groups of recent
immigrants, including Asian immigrants, and African Born Black immigrants.
The cultural adaptation and mental health of immigrant youth and families will be
examined. Studies explaining the psychology of immigration, the acclamation process, and the
rates in which acclamation occurs differently between generations of a family. Lastly to explore
the effects of discrimination or perceived discrimination on acclimation into a new culture. The
challenges of immigration and the importance of a community to leave no immigrant family, or
child outside of community. This effects the process of immigration, as immigrants have to be
proactive in searching for resources and community support. Often they do not know or
understand that these resources are available, primarily when emigrating from poorer countries,
where certain resources were never offered. A sense of community is important, and how it
facilitates development is crucial to the future of immigrant children.
“Acculturation stress, combined with service disparities, may contribute to a higher risk
for psychopathology among immigrant children and youth, as compared to their parents”
(Pumariega & Rothe, 2010, p. 505). Perceived discrimination and substance abuse among the
immigrant populations that are rising within the United States. The science behind acclimation
and how individuals process, imitate culture and develop an identity through their cultural
locations, can may affect the pattern of substance abuse (APA, 2013). Examining how multiple
immigrant groups struggle and the difficulties of locating information on substance abuse and
perceived discrimination when assimilating to new communities. “Recent research findings
reveal that acculturation and greater time in the U.S. are linked to substance use and mental
illness diagnoses among foreign-born individuals” (Tran & Lee, 2010, p.227).

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Alcohol misuse and the protective role that pre-immigration community and family
stability has been suggested as a preventative benefit against substance abuse in immigrating
populations. “Little is known about pre-immigration levels of familismo, that may help buffer
problematic substance use after arrival to the United States” (Dillon, De la Rosa et al, 2013, p.
956). It is believed that the connection between families before they are separated through
immigration could have a positive effect on diminishing substance abuse issues in immigrants.
Maintaining a connection to family, or creating one to the new community when immigrating to
a new location, can create an environment that can diminish the prevalence of substance abuse in
adults and in turn their children.
Methods
Participants
The participants within my study are adults that emigrated from Central America before
2014. These adults were gathered from a volunteer list composed from the local Hispanic Center.
The present study was conducted with a sample size of n= 84. 20.2% participants emigrated from
El Salvador, 28.5% participants from Honduras, 45.2% participants from Guatemala and 5%
from Ecuador.
This sample was representative of the demographic of Central American immigrants
within Western Michigan, that use the local Hispanic Center’s resources. The participants’ ages
ranged from 21-54 years old. There were 42.9% men and 57.1% women. Of the men, 34% were
documented while 66% were undocumented. Nine percent of the undocumented men are in the
process of becoming citizens. The women were 19% documented while 81% undocumented,
only five percent of undocumented women were in the process of becoming citizens.

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Procedure
A survey was administered to the 84 participants. The survey aimed to assess the
immigration and acculturation’s effect on substance abuse in recently immigrated adults within
the past five years. This study was compromised of 20 questions that assess information on
demographics, frequency of alcohol consumption in home country, immigration status, family
separation, assimilation to new culture and substance abuse. Bilingual, trained research staff
administered the surveys in Spanish. Licensed interpreters were used for administering of
surveys for six participants from Guatemala who spoke Quiche, Chuj and Mam dialects. The
surveys were administered to the participants in over the phone interviews, and in person
interviews at the local Hispanic Center. The measurement for substance abuse was measured in
frequency of binge drinking behaviors since arriving to the U.S.
Participants were asked to recall their habits in home country regarding substance
consumption, they were asked to report how often substances were used and how much was
consumed. Afterwards a calendar was provided to the participants to assist in recall of drinking
behaviors within the U.S. (i.e, birthdays, holidays and special occasions). Binge drinking was
defined as having four or more drinks within one drinking episode. However, substance abuse
was defined as binge drinking two or more times a week or drinking heavily (three or more
drinks) four to five times per calendar week. Researchers were prepared to document outliers
that abuse other substances. Each survey required 40 minutes to complete and participants were
compensated $50 for participation.
The procedure is to analyze how time in the country and acculturation can affect
substance abuse in recently immigrated individuals. We will also examine if gender or

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immigration issues may affect substance abuse as well. The independent variables that will be
focused on within this study will be the gender of participants, the amount of time in the U.S.,
immigration issues and sense of community. The dependent variables will be how frequently
substances are abused in regards to binge drinking and alcoholism.
Data Analysis Plan
Covariates of the data were gender, documentation status and country of origin. One way
ANOVA was run on the categorical LOS (length of stay within U.S.) variable to evaluate the
influence. This procedure was used to compare the means of the immigration status groups. This
test aims to analyze if difficulty with immigration status may contribute to substance abuse. One
way ANOVA was conducted on the variables for length of time within the U.S. this aims to
compare the means of assimilation based on time frame and relate how it may contribute to
substance abuse. A correlation analysis was used to analyze specific covariates of gender and
post immigration substance abuse habits.
Results
An ANOVA was run to compare the means of the immigration status groups. The
analysis was significant, participants found that their substance abuse was higher before
spending 2 years within the United States (see Table 1). We view this trend in first year
participants (M=2.3, SD=1.4) versus fourth year participants (M= 2.0,SD= 1.0). We notice a
significant rise in substance abuse after the fifth year. This suggests that there are other factors
that contribute to the rise in substance abuse in the fifth year, and supports the need for additional
research for substance abuse post-immigration after five years. Substances included cigarettes,
alcohol and other recreational drugs. Participants also were made aware of the accelerated usage

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of these substances during their acclimation process, than their previous substance behaviors in
home country.
Table 1
Substance abuse and Length of Stay
Descriptives
Drug
N Mean
Std.
Deviation
Std.
Error
95%
Confidence
Interval for
Mean Minimum
Maximum
Lower
Bound
Upper
Bound
first year 19 2.3158 1.41628 .32492 1.6332 2.9984 1.00 4.00
second year 10 2.3000 .94868 .30000 1.6214 2.9786 1.00 4.00
third year 21 2.2381 1.17918 .25732 1.7013 2.7749 1.00 4.00
fourth year 17 2.0588 1.02899 .24957 1.5298 2.5879 1.00 4.00
fifth year 17 2.7059 1.04670 .25386 2.1677 3.2440 1.00 4.00
Total 84 2.3214 1.15290 .12579 2.0712 2.5716 1.00 4.00
A correlational analysis was run to examine the relationship between gender and
substance abuse habits post- immigration. The analysis was positive for men (M= 2.8, SD=1.19).
Men were found to have higher substance abuse habits post immigration than women. Women
also saw a rise in their substance abuse habits (see Table 2), but had smaller correlations within
their numbers. More women were surveyed than men, but their numbers remained lower (M=1.9,
SD=.966). Potential factors for men with higher substance abuse could be a direct effect of men
immediately entering the workforce upon arrival to the U.S. As many men flee for more
opportunities, to send money home and to support families.
Documentation status correlation showed a slight decline in substance abuse when
immigrants were in the process of receiving documentation, but a rise in substance abuse
occurred once immigrants were granted status within the U.S (see Table 3). This most likely

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attributed to the immigration process, and the need to remain in good standing while receiving
immigration documents. The importance of not jeopardizing the potential status and
opportunities of and immigrant and their family members. This could also be a result of the
widespread fear of officials within the U.S. when an immigrant does not have status.
Table 2
Substance abuse and Gender
Descriptives
Drug
N Mean
Std.
Deviation
Std.
Error
95%
Confidence
Interval for
Mean Minimum
Maximum
Lower
Bound
Upper
Bound
1.00 35 2.8571 1.19171 .20144 2.4478 3.2665 1.00 4.00
2.00 49 1.9388 .96627 .13804 1.6612 2.2163 1.00 4.00
Total 84 2.3214 1.15290 .12579 2.0712 2.5716 1.00 4.00
Table 3
Substance abuse and Documentation Status
Descriptives
Drug
N Mean
Std.
Deviation
Std.
Error
95%
Confidence
Interval for
Mean Minimum
Maximum
Lower
Bound
Upper
Bound
undocumented 57 2.3333 1.18523 .15699 2.0189 2.6478 1.00 4.00
in process 7 2.2857 .95119 .35952 1.4060 3.1654 1.00 4.00
documented 20 2.3000 1.17429 .26258 1.7504 2.8496 1.00 4.00
Total 84 2.3214 1.15290 .12579 2.0712 2.5716 1.00 4.00

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Discussion
The findings showed that substance abuse did rise primarily during the first two years of
assimilation to the United States culture. After the first three years within the country, generally
results showed that participants’ substance abuse behaviors either remained the same or
decreased. Although it was noticed that after five years the substance abuse behaviors increased.
There were many independent factors that could have affected the outcome of this data.
Assimilation to the new environment of the U.S, discrimination and becoming a minority
instead of the majority as in home country. The change of social status and level from home
country to the U.S. environment as a recent immigrant. Prolonged separation from immediate
family members in home country, individuals may begin missing important life events of family
members (i.e, births, weddings, deaths etc). Individuals may start new traditions within the U.S.
and feel a sense of culture loss. Gender and documentation status were the primary factors we
accounted for within this study. Men had a tendency to rise in substance abuse behaviors when
acclimating, whereas females had a slight rise in these behaviors, but remained lower than their
male counterparts.
Participants that were in the process of receiving their status, were less likely to engage in
frequent substance abuse behaviors. But participants that were undocumented or already had
documentation status had higher rates of substance abuse. The conclusion of this study was that
acclimation can affect the substance abuse behaviors of individuals emigrating from Central
America, and that gender does have an effect on the substance abuse trend we see within
immigrating persons.

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Limitations
Limitations of this study would be the representative population of the participants. All of
the participants successfully made the journey to the U.S., thus excluding many physically and
mentally disabled individuals, as well as the elderly. This population would also excluded young
adults who face the same acclimation challenges, but have been known to have an easier
transition and assimilation to a new culture. Young adults may also have similar if not more
pressures to abuse substances to fit into their new culture.
An additional population limitation would be the participant population taken from the
Hispanic Center of West Michigan. The overall population of Central American immigrants is
low within the state of Michigan and significantly lower compared to the top five states changing
demographically by this growing Latino population, (Texas, Maryland, California, Florida and
New York). This factor may have affected the sense of community these individuals were feeling
within predominately Caucasian and American Midwestern regions.
Another limitation could be self- reporting of substance abuse behaviors and
documentation status. It is common that socially undesirable behaviors are less likely to be self-
reported, and less likely to be valid when reported. It is reasonable to believe that many of the
participants did not accurately self-report their substance abuse behaviors and that many
participants may have not accurately reported their documentation status or process of receiving
documentation.

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Conclusion
The conclusion of this study would be that the first three years of assimilation and
immigration within the U.S. have contributed to a decreased use of substances for Hispanic
immigrants. There was a significant rise in the use of substances for this population after five
years within the U.S. As for documentation status, immigrants in the process of receiving
documentation status lower their substance abuse while in the process. These substance abuse
behaviors generally rise once status has been granted. These substance behaviors also tend to be
higher for immigrants that are undocumented, and not in the process of documentation. Gender
had an effect on substance abuse. Men tend to have higher substance abuse habits than women
post-immigration.
This study could be used to develop a demographics study of people who are emigrating
from Latin countries. This study could assist in creating programs geared towards the
demographic of individuals that are prone to developing substance abuse behaviors. And create
communities and support groups of people who have recently immigrated, so they do not feel
isolated and alone in their struggles.
Research should be continued to create longitudinal studies of the substance abuse and
development of people that have recently immigrated within the last decade or fifteen years. This
research could explore if the change in social standing, prolonged family separation or creating a
new identity would significantly impact substance abuse. More education and studies need to be
conducted for one of the largest migrations in the U.S. There will be many new generations
within our country and we need to have the tools and knowledge to provide for the growing
communities.

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References
Crossroads: The psychology of immigration in the new century. (2013). Journal of
Latina/o Psychology, 13), 133-148. doi:10.1037/lat0000001
Dillon, F. R., De La Rosa, M., Sastre, F., & Ibañez, G. (2013). Alcohol misuse among
recent Latino immigrants: The protective role of preimmigration familismo.
Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 27(4), 956-965. doi:10.1037/a0031091
Pumariega, A. J., & Rothe, E. (2010). Leaving no children or families outside: The
challenges of immigration. American Journal Of Orthopsychiatry, 80(4), 505-515.
doi:10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01053
Sanchez, M., Rosa, M. L., Blackson, T. C., Sastre, F., Rojas, P., Li, T., & Dillon, F. (2014).
Pre- to postimmigration alcohol use trajectories among recent Latino
immigrants. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 28(4), 990-999. doi:10.1037/a0037807
Tran, A. T., Lee, R. M., & Burgess, D. J. (2010). Perceived discrimination and substance
use in Hispanic/Latino, African-born Black, and Southeast Asian immigrants. Cultural
Diversity And Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 226-236. doi:10.1037/a0016344