Reasons and obstacles for changing risky drinking behavior among Latinas at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

This study examined reasons and obstacles for changing risky alcohol use behavior among Latina adults at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. Using qualitative methods, data from CHOICES Plus intervention sessions of Latinas (N = 59) were analyzed. Reasons for wanting to change risky alcohol use centered on health, parenting, interpersonal conflict, control, and risk of harm. Obstacles included social obstacles, belief that drinking was not risky, and drinking to manage mood. Differences were found across level of acculturation. Knowledge about salient motives and obstacles is critical to addressing the needs and strengths of Latinas at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

Impact of Trauma-Informed Care Training on Attitudes Among Emergency Department Personnel, Staff Advocates, and Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers may risk retraumatizing patients and intensifying patient distress unless they practice trauma-informed care. As the first line of defense in assisting trauma survivors' physical and emotional recovery, health care providers must use a strengths-based framework that promotes resilience and expands on the trauma survivor's existing resources. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effect of trauma-informed care training on the attitudes of emergency department personnel, staff advocates, and nursing students toward trauma-informed care. METHODS: This study used a pretest-posttest design. Assessment of attitudes toward trauma-informed care was done before and after trauma-informed care training. Data collection occurred from February 2021 through August 2021. Participants included three cohorts of emergency department staff, advocates for trauma survivors, and nursing students. Attitudes toward trauma-informed care were measured using the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale. RESULTS: A total of 433 participants were studied, including 88 emergency department staff, 123 staff advocates, and 222 nursing students. All three cohorts significantly increased ARTIC Scale scores posttraining (p < .001). At preintervention, all three cohorts significantly differed from each other on ARTIC Scale scores (p < .01). In contrast, postintervention, ARTIC Scale scores did not significantly differ between nursing students and advocates (p = .99). Nursing students showed a significant increase in scores from pre- to postintervention compared with either advocates or emergency department staff. CONCLUSION: The results strongly suggest that health care providers can improve attitudes toward trauma-informed care after completing training on the principles and application of trauma-informed care.

The contribution of positive affect and loneliness on readiness and self-efficacy to quit smoking among Spanish-speaking Mexican American smokers.

BACKGROUND: The existing research on affective and interpersonal determinants of smoking cessation largely under-represents minority smokers, such as Latinos. OBJECTIVE: The current study examined associations between affective and interpersonal factors with intermediary smoking cessation variables among Mexican-American smokers (N = 290; 60% male). METHODS: Measures of positive and negative affect, social support, and loneliness were each examined for associations with measures of motivational readiness to quit smoking, and smoking abstinence self-efficacy. Significant predictors were entered into models simultaneously to examine their unique associations. Covariates included gender, age, and educational attainment. RESULTS: Negative affect (b = .68, SE b = .14, p < .001) and loneliness (b = .20, SE b = .09, p < .05) were independently associated with motivation. Negative affect (b = .20, SE b = .06, p < .01) and positive affect (b = .34 SE b = .07, p < .001) were independently associated with self-efficacy. In the final models, only negative affect was associated with motivation (b = .68, SE b = .17, p < .001); whereas negative (b = .17, SE b = .06, p < .01) and positive (b = . 32, SE b = .07, p < .001) affect were associated with self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Results highlight the importance of resilience factors (e.g., positive affect) among Mexican-American smokers. Cessation interventions regularly target negative affect among smokers; additional focus on positive affect in cessation interventions with this population may be warranted.

Improving Spanish translations of tobacco dependence measures using cognitive interviewing.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive interviewing is the practice of systematically collecting feedback about survey items from members of the priority population, with the goal of identifying and rectifying problems to increase the comprehensibility of the survey. Evidence is limited on the extent to which this method of pretesting improves survey items. OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the utility of incorporating cognitive interviewing to improve the Spanish translations of two measures of tobacco dependence. METHODS: Items from the Spanish versions of the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (68 items) and Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (19 items) were subjected to cognitive interviews with Spanish-speaking smokers. Problematic items were revised based on participant feedback and re-assessed in a second round of interviews (N = 23, 78.3% male; 21.7% female). RESULTS: Twenty-three of the 87 items demonstrated comprehension problems, and 67 items elicited at least one problem report. Number of problems were significantly fewer pre- vs. post-revision (t [90] = 6.55, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In combination with standard translation procedures, cognitive interviewing with the priority population appears to be a useful method for ensuring comprehensible and relevant item content.

RESUMEN Contexto: La entrevista cognitiva es la práctica de recopilar sistemáticamente información sobre los elementos de la encuesta de los miembros de la población prioritaria, con el objetivo de identificar y rectificar problemas para aumentar la comprensibilidad de la encuesta. La literatura científica existente es limitada en la medida en que este método de pruebas preliminares mejora los elementos de la encuesta. Objetivo: El estudio actual examinó la utilidad de incorporar entrevistas cognitivas para mejorar las traducciones al español de dos medidas de dependencia del tabaco. Métodos: Los elementos de las versiones en español del Inventario de Motivos de Dependencia del Fumar de Wisconsin (68 elementos) y la Escala del Síndrome de Dependencia de Nicotina (19 elementos) fueron sometidos a entrevistas cognitivas con fumadores hispanohablantes. Los ele-mentos problemáticos se revisaron basándose en la retroalimentación de los participantes y se reevaluaron en una segunda ronda de entrevistas (N = 23, 78,3% hombres; 21,7% mujeres). Resultados: Veintitrés de los 87 elementos demostraron problemas de comprensión, y 67 elementos presentaron por lo menos un reporte de problemas. El número de problemas fue significativamente menos antes y después de la revisión (t [90] = 6,55, p < 001). Conclusión: En combinación con los procedimientos de traducción estándar, las entrevistas cogni-tivas con la población prioritaria parecen ser un método útil para garantizar un contenido com-prensible y relevante para cada elemento.

Mechanisms of change in drinking following an alcohol-related injury: A qualitative examination of the sentinel event effect.

Background: Sentinel events are negative health-related events that trigger change in risky health behaviors. Despite its presumed major role in behavior change, the sentinel event effect has received little empirical attention. Through analysis of qualitative interviews, we explored how sentinel events trigger behavior change. Methods: Thematic analysis and concept mapping were used to develop a preliminary model of the sentinel event effect among a sample of 24 adult heavy drinking Mexican-origin men previously admitted to a hospital due to injury. The model was checked against cases that did versus did not report change in alcohol use following an alcohol-related negative event. Results: Findings suggest that sentinel events may arouse negative emotional reactions, encourage reflection on the negative consequences of drinking, and cause reevaluation of the severity and significance of drinking. These processes may increase motivation to change. Conclusions: Findings support the concept of the sentinel event as a natural intervention, and identifies potential social-cognitive and motivational mechanisms through which it influences change. Findings stand to inform research on mechanisms underlying brief intervention effects, and research that seeks to identify treatment targets.

The Effects of a Brief Motivational Intervention for Alcohol Use through Stages of Change among Nontreatment Seeking Injured Patients.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the mechanisms of change underlying brief interventions and the patient characteristics that may affect them. The present study tested whether the stages of change mediate the effects of a BMI with and without a telephone booster relative to brief advice (i.e., multiple mediation). Further, the present study tested whether the effects of the BMI conditions on the stages of change were contingent on patients' alcohol use severity (i.e., moderated mediation). METHODS: The present study is a secondary analysis using data from injured adult patients at 3 trauma centers who were screened for inclusion in the study and randomly assigned to brief advice (n = 200), BMI (n = 203), or BMI with a telephone booster (n = 193) (Field et al., 2014). Participants completed a baseline assessment and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up assessments that included self-report measures of the stages of change, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems, as well as other variables of interest. RESULTS: The results demonstrated significant and consistent mediation at p < 0.05 wherein BMI with a telephone booster increased action at 3-month follow-up leading to reduced likelihood of at-risk drinking, less alcohol use, and fewer alcohol problems at both 6- and 12-month follow-up. However, moderated mediation analyses suggested that the effects of the BMI conditions on the stages of change were not contingent on patients' alcohol use severity. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the understanding of stages of change as potential mechanisms of change in BMI. Directions for future research are discussed.

Revisiting the Relationship Between Acculturation and Smoking Cessation Among Mexican Americans.

BACKGROUND: A well-established gender-differentiated association between acculturation and current smoking exists among Latino adults. There are far fewer studies on the potential influence of acculturation on smoking cessation, and extant findings are mixed. PURPOSE: Using a multidimensional measure of acculturation, the current study examined the independent and interactive associations of gender and acculturation with smoking cessation among Mexican American smokers engaged in a quit attempt. METHODS: Using a latent variable modeling approach to repeated measures analysis, the independent and interaction effects of acculturation in two cultural directions (American and Mexican) were examined for their prospective associations with smoking abstinence. Interactions of acculturation domains with gender were also examined. Acculturation was assessed at baseline and abstinence status was assessed at 3 and 26 weeks post-quit. RESULTS: The interaction of American and Mexican cultural identity was significantly associated with smoking abstinence, such that greater American cultural identity was positively associated with abstinence only among those with high Mexican cultural identity. The interaction of English proficiency with gender was significant such that English proficiency was positively associated with abstinence among men but not women. CONCLUSIONS: Findings in the cultural identity domain are consistent with a "benefits of biculturalism" perspective, and may be particularly relevant to the adoption of an American cultural orientation among persons with an already-strong heritage-culture orientation. Findings also replicate a gender-differentiated association between acculturation and cessation. Implications for treatment development and future research are discussed.

The Role of Acculturation and Alcohol Problems on Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Latinas at Risk of an Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancy.

Background: Along with alcohol, cannabis is one of the most commonly used substances among women of childbearing age. Recent studies indicate detrimental effects of prenatal cannabis use. Because many women use these substances before realizing they are pregnant, these serious health consequences for women and their offspring are of great concern. Despite the recent upsurge in cannabis use, little is known about individual and sociocultural factors that may contribute to risk of a cannabis-exposed pregnancy, particularly among Latinas of child-bearing age also at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP). Objectives: Examine the relationships of acculturation, alcohol use, alcohol problems, and psychological distress with frequency of cannabis use among adult Latinas at risk of an AEP. Methods: The hypothesized model included 76 Latinas and was analyzed using path analysis. The study used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of an intervention targeting risky drinking and tobacco use among women at risk of an AEP in primary care clinics. Results: Greater acculturation was associated with more frequent cannabis use and greater psychological distress. There was a positive indirect relationship between acculturation and alcohol use and alcohol problems through psychological distress. Greater alcohol problems were associated with more frequent cannabis use. Greater psychological distress and alcohol use were indirectly related to more frequent cannabis use through alcohol problems. Conclusions: Findings underscore the critical role of acculturation and alcohol-related problems in cannabis use frequency and have relevant implications for preventive efforts addressing cannabis use among Latinas at risk of an AEP.

Age of First Marijuana Use and Its Impact on Education Attainment and Employment Status.

With the increased prevalence of marijuana use among youth, the increase in state legalization, and changing social norms in the United States, it is important to understand the long-term impact of marijuana use initiation. This study examined whether age of first marijuana use is associated with educational attainment and employment status. Data from 5,988 adults aged 26 to 49 years who participated in the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health were used in the current study. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the odds of graduating from high school and being employed. Controlling for demographics, persons with late-early first use had significantly higher odds of graduating from high school and being employed compared with persons with early first use. Results underscore the importance of early prevention for youth aged 15 and younger and have implications for intervention and policy development.

Solution-focused brief therapy for Chilean primary care patients: Exploring a linguistic adaptation.

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a resource-based, future-oriented therapeutic approach that focuses on finding exceptions to problems and identifying coping strategies to build solutions. SFBT has been efficacious with individuals with alcohol use disorders. Chile experiences high levels of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related health consequences. Despite the international dissemination of SFBT, this is the first study to attempt a linguistic adaptation of SFBT in a Latin American country. We conducted 9 cognitive interviews to examine 13 translated main SFBT tools and 3 focus groups to gather information on cultural aspects of alcohol use in primary care. Results suggest that Chileans understood most SFBT tools, albeit with some linguistic modifications of original translations, and that family, gender, and meaningful issues should be considered when working with individuals with alcohol use disorders.

Sociodemographics, but not Acculturation Proxies, Account for Differences in Lifetime Cessation between White and Hispanic Smokers.

Objective: Prominent addiction theories predict that Hispanic smokers should have more success at quitting than White smokers due to less physical dependence on average, but extant findings are mixed. This might be due in part to a lack of attention to confounding demographic and acculturation-related variables. Our study compared likelihood of lifetime cessation between White and Hispanic men and women of different language proficiency, nativity and residency status, controlling for age, education, and poverty level. Method: Data from 123,574 White and Hispanic participants in the 2011-2015 National Health Interview Surveys were used. Logistic regression analyses examined ethnic differences in odds of being a former smoker. Predicted probabilities of being a former smoker were calculated from these models. Results: In unadjusted analyses, White men demonstrated higher odds of being a former smoker compared with Hispanic men, Hispanic women, and White women. In adjusted analyses, Hispanics demonstrated higher odds of being a former smoker compared with Whites, and differences by acculturation proxies emerged. Conclusions: Not accounting for demographics may suppress ethnic differences in likelihood of smoking cessation. Among Hispanics, demographics may be more important determinants of lifetime quitting than acculturation-related characteristics.

Dispositional Mindfulness Predicts Enhanced Smoking Cessation and Smoking Lapse Recovery.

BACKGROUND: Although mindfulness has been hypothesized to promote health behaviors, no research has examined how dispositional mindfulness might influence the process of smoking cessation. PURPOSE: The current study investigated dispositional mindfulness, smoking abstinence, and recovery from a lapse among African American smokers. METHODS: Participants were 399 African Americans seeking smoking cessation treatment (treatments did not include any components related to mindfulness). Dispositional mindfulness and other psychosocial measures were obtained pre-quit; smoking abstinence was assessed 3, 31 days, and 26 weeks post-quit. RESULTS: Individuals higher in dispositional mindfulness were more likely to quit smoking both initially and over time. Moreover, among individuals who had lapsed at day 3, those higher in mindfulness were more likely to recover abstinence by the later time points. The mindfulness-early abstinence association was mediated by lower negative affect, lower expectancies to regulate affect via smoking, and higher perceived social support. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that mindfulness might enhance smoking cessation among African American smokers by operating on mechanisms posited by prominent models of addiction.

Abdominal Wall Defects among Mexican American Infants: The Effect of Maternal Nativity.

BACKGROUND: US-born Mexican American women have greater rates of preterm birth and consequent overall infant mortality than their Mexico-born peers. However, the relation of Mexican American women's nativity to rates of congenital anomalies is poorly understood. Hispanic ethnicity and young maternal age are well-known risk factors for gastroschisis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which nativity of Mexican American women is associated with abdominal wall defects. METHODS: Stratified and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on the 2003-2004 National Center for Health Statistics linked live birth-infant death cohort. Only Mexican American infants were studied. Maternal variables examined included nativity, age, education, marital status, parity, and prenatal care usage. RESULTS: Infants with US-born Mexican American mothers (n=451,272) had an abdominal wall defect rate of 3.9/10,000 compared with 2.0/10,000 for those with Mexico-born mothers (n=786,878), RR=1.9 (1.5-2.4). Though a greater percentage of US-born (compared wtih Mexico-born) Mexican American mothers were teens, the nativity disparity was actually widest among women in their 20s. The adjusted (controlling for maternal age, education, marital status, parity, and prenatal care) odds ratio of abdominal wall defects among infants of US-born (compared with Mexico-born) Mexican American mothers was 1.6 (1.2-2.0). CONCLUSIONS: US-born Mexican American women have nearly a two-fold greater rate of delivering an infant with an abdominal wall defect than their Mexico-born counterparts. This phenomenon is only partially explained by traditional risk factors and highlights a detrimental impact of lifelong residence in the United States, or something closely related to it, on the pregnancy outcome of Mexican American women.

Cultural adaptation of a brief motivational intervention for heavy drinking among Hispanics in a medical setting.

BACKGROUND: Hispanics, particularly men of Mexican origin, are more likely to engage in heavy drinking and experience alcohol-related problems, but less likely to obtain treatment for alcohol problems than non-Hispanic men. Our previous research indicates that heavy-drinking Hispanics who received a brief motivational intervention (BMI) were significantly more likely than Hispanics receiving standard care to reduce subsequent alcohol use. Among Hispanics who drink heavily the BMI effectively reduced alcohol use but did not impact alcohol-related problems or treatment utilization. We hypothesized that an adapted BMI that integrates cultural values and addresses acculturative stress among Hispanics would be more effective. METHODS/DESIGN: We describe here the protocol for the design and implementation of a randomized (approximately 300 patients per condition) controlled trial evaluating the comparative effectiveness of a culturally adapted (CA) BMI in contrast to a non-adapted BMI (NA-BMI) in a community hospital setting among men of Mexican origin. Study participants will include men who were hospitalized due to an alcohol related injury or screened positive for heavy drinking. By accounting for risk and protective factors of heavy drinking among Hispanics, we hypothesize that CA-BMI will significantly decrease alcohol use and alcohol problems, and increase help-seeking and treatment utilization. DISCUSSION: This is likely the first study to directly address alcohol related health disparities among non-treatment seeking men of Mexican origin by comparing the benefits of a CA-BMI to a NA-BMI. This study stands to not only inform interventions used in medical settings to reduce alcohol-related health disparities, but may also help reduce the public health burden of heavy alcohol use in the United States. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02429401; Registration date: April 28, 2015.

Alcohol Use Severity Among Hispanic Emerging Adults in Higher Education: Understanding the Effect of Cultural Congruity.

BACKGROUND: Identifying and understanding determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic college students is an increasingly important public health issue, particularly during emerging adulthood. Studies examining ethnocultural determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic college students have focused on direct associations with cultural orientation (e.g., acculturation and enculturation); yet there is a need for research that accounts for the complex interplay of other culturally relevant sociocultural factors. OBJECTIVES: This study examined associations of behavioral acculturation, behavioral enculturation, and cultural congruity (perception of cultural fit between the values of the academic environment and the student's personal values) with alcohol use severity (AUS); and tested if gender moderated those associations. METHODS: A hierarchical linear regression and moderation analysis were conducted on a sample of 167 Hispanic emerging adults (ages 18-25) enrolled in college. RESULTS: All predictor variables entered in the regression model accounted for 20.9% of the variance in AUS. After controlling for demographic variables and depressive symptoms, behavioral acculturation and enculturation did not have a statistically significant association with AUS. Further, gender did not moderate either of these associations. Conversely, greater cultural congruity was associated with lower reports of AUS. A moderation analysis suggested that cultural congruity predicted lower reports of AUS among men, but not among women. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first known study to examine the association of cultural congruity with alcohol use. Findings highlight the value of examining contextual factors of culture and moving beyond reductive measures of cultural orientation.

Failure to replicate the structure of a Spanish-language brief Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives across three samples of Latino smokers.

BACKGROUND: Research in smoking is hindered by a lack of validated measures available in languages other than English. Availability of measures in languages other than English is vital to the inclusion of diverse groups in smoking research. To help address this gap, this study attempted to validate a Spanish-language version of the brief Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (Brief WISDM). METHODS: Data from 3 independent, diverse samples of Spanish-speaking Latino smokers seeking cessation counseling were utilized. Confirmatory factor analyses of 3 known structures of the Brief WISDM were examined for fit within each sample. A separate analysis was also conducted with the 3 samples combined. A post-hoc exploratory factor analyses with the combined sample was also conducted. RESULTS: Across 12 confirmatory factor analyses, none of the 3 structures demonstrated good fit in any of the samples independently or in the combined sample. Across the 3 samples, high intercorrelations (>.90) were found among the Loss of Control, Craving, Tolerance, and Cue Exposure scales, suggesting great redundancy among these scales. An exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) further supported these high intercorrelations. Some subscales remained intact in the EFA but accounted for little variance. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study was unable to replicate the structure of a Spanish-language Brief WISDM in 3 independent samples of smokers. Possible explanations include inadequate translation of the measure and/or true and meaningful differences in the construct of dependence among Spanish-speaking Latino smokers. Both possibilities merit further research.

Sociodemographic and treatment-related determinants of recent substance use among adults with comorbid substance misuse and psychotic disorders discharged from substance use treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Rates of alcohol and illicit substance use are higher among persons with psychotic disorders relative to the general population. The adverse health and psychological effects of substance use behaviors disproportionately impact persons with psychotic disorders. Prior research has shown that persons with psychotic disorders experience increased difficulty in reducing substance use behaviors, and interventions targeting substance use behavior change among this population have demonstrated limited effectiveness. One reason for this is that little is known about the factors that influence substance use and behavior change among this population. To address these disparities, the present study investigated sociodemographic and treatment-related factors of substance use recurrence among persons with psychotic disorders who received substance use treatment services. METHODS: Data came from the 2015-2018 Treatment Episode Dataset-Discharges (TEDS-D). TEDS-D collects annual data on adolescent and adult discharges from state-certified substance use treatment centers in the United States. The study conducted all analyses with a subsample of 1956 adult discharges with a psychotic disorder who received services from an outpatient substance use treatment center for at least one month. χ2 tests of independence and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations of sociodemographic and treatment-related characteristics with substance use recurrence while in treatment (α < 0.05 analyses). The study presents results from multivariable logistic regression models as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Those who were age 50 or older, were referred to treatment by the criminal justice system, and attended substance use self-help groups had lower odds of substance use recurrence while in treatment. Sex, educational attainment, employment status, living situation, type of substance use, and treatment history were not significantly associated with substance use recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In designing treatment services, providers should consider whether focusing on sociodemographic, including cultural, factors can affect more positive substance use behavior change and other desired treatment outcomes among those with psychotic disorders and comorbid substance misuse. Further study is needed to identify these factors among specific subpopulations of those with psychotic disorders and substance misuse.

Disaggregating trends in alcohol involvement among Hispanic, Black, and White female and male U.S. adolescents: 2002 to 2019.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol involvement is declining among U.S. adolescents, however studies examining population-level trends in alcohol involvement among females and males from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are scarce. Therefore, the current study examined alcohol involvement from 2002 to 2019 among Hispanic, Black, and White U.S. adolescent females and males. METHOD: Data were from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, years 2002-2019. Participants were between 12 to 17 years old and Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, or non-Hispanic White. Annualized change estimates within each subgroup were analyzed separately for four alcohol variables: 1) lifetime alcohol use; 2) age at alcohol initiation; 3) past-year drinking days; 4) respondent's perceived risk of alcohol misuse. RESULTS: Lifetime alcohol use decreased for all groups, and the decrease was strongest for Hispanic males. Age at alcohol initiation similarly increased for Hispanic and White females and males, with no change in age at alcohol initiation for Black adolescents. Past-year drinking days declined for all groups but was not significant for Black females. Perceiving alcohol misuse as a "great risk" increased only for Hispanic males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Although alcohol involvement is declining among U.S. adolescents, results from this study highlight that engaging with alcohol is normative among many adolescent groups. Also, when considering sex as well as race and ethnicity, there are important distinctions in patterns of decline in alcohol involvement that should be accounted for to inform future research and screening.

Men of Mexican ethnicity, alcohol use, and help-seeking: "I can quit on my own."

INTRODUCTION: Hispanics report higher rates of problematic alcohol use compared to non-Hispanic Whites while also reporting lower rates of alcohol treatment utilization compared to non-Hispanics. The study employs Anderson's Behavioral Model of Healthcare Utilization Model to guide the exploration of alcohol use, help-seeking and healthcare utilization. METHODS: The present qualitative study explored help-seeking and alcohol treatment utilization for Hispanic men of Mexican ethnicity. A total of 27 participants (Mage = 35.7, SD = 10.82) completed a semi-structured interview that explored the treatment experiences and underlying psychological mechanisms that shaped their help-seeking. RESULTS: Through a thematic content analysis, the following themes emerged: 1) perceiving need with subthemes of familismo, role as protector and provider, and positive face; 2) predisposing beliefs on help-seeking; and 3) treatment experiences and elements of patient satisfaction with subthemes of monetized treatment, respect, and perceiving professional stigma. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this article may assist in improving strategies for increasing alcohol treatment utilization among men of Mexican ethnicity. By exploring beliefs, values, and experiences health researchers can develop culturally informed intervention strategies.