Young Latinos start drinking alcohol before other American teens

Young Latinos are more likely to drink alcohol at a younger age than their African American and non-Hispanic white counterpartsbut are receiving fewer addiction treatments, revealed a report released today.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California in collaboration with the University of Arizona (ASU) and DePaul University, has evaluated the effectiveness of treatments for mental problems among young people from ethnic minorities in the country.

"We have great hopes that (this study) will help improve the well-being and care of this population in the United States by offering physicians and new and up-to-date information to mental health service providers, "said Armando Pina, a member of the ASU Psychology Department and one of the authors of the report.

The report also noted that young African-Americans exhibit attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms that are higher than their white counterparts, but they receive "less appropriate treatment for disruptive behavior".

The investigation also revealed that There are "few effective treatments" for the high suicide rate among young Native Americans, which since 2003 exceeds the national average.

The researchers found that, for example, "cognitive behavioral interventions" were effective in helping young Latinos with anxiety.

Treatments included "teaching strategies to change problematic patterns of thinking and behavior" and, often, social skills training has been added.

Actions involving parental involvement ("family therapy") have been helpful in helping young African-Americans with disruptive behavior, as well as Latinos facing problems with alcohol or drug use.

The badysis also determined that "There is no established treatment for depression, reactions to trauma and stress, self-inflicted acts, suicide or the simultaneous appearance of several problems. "

When she asked for more research on treatment for minority youth, Pina said that "The survey should come out of the lab and enter the community."