Here are some resources that shed additional light onto this complex issue in the US and address the ethnic disparities in social determinants. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offers information on minority health disparities, and Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) National Health Interview Survey has findings on ethnic differences.
The solution to the problem is equally complex, but health literacy and resiliency skills can be a first step, along with the ability to identify and address problems when they arise. Community-based resources may be available, even where healthcare access is limited. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a national helpline, resources for substance use treatment and programs for Native Youth. If you have concerns about your own drinking, or someone else’s, we encourage you to take our alcohol use self-assessment test and to seek the advice of a trained healthcare professional.
In this discussion, we’ve opted for broad and neutral terminology in an effort to be as inclusive as possible of ethnic groups living in the United States. We use ‘Black’, rather than ‘African American’, as not all Black Americans are of African descent. Similarly, we refer to ‘Indigenous’ peoples and groups rather than ‘American Indians’ or ‘Native Americans’ to also include Pacific Islanders and Alaska Natives. The term ‘Latino’ was chosen to cover the range of peoples of Latin American origin, not only those who are native speakers of Spanish or ‘Hispanic’. While the term ‘Asian American’ covers a wide range of origins, it’s currently the preferred umbrella term in the United States.