Childhood Parental Deportations, Immigration Enforcement Experiences, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among US-Born Latino Adults, 2021.

Objectives. To examine how having a parent deported in childhood and immigration enforcement encounters relate to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a sample of US-born Latinos. Methods. In 2021, a national sample of 1784 US-born Latinos was recruited to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited data on sociodemographics, mental health, and immigration-related experiences. The dependent variable was past-year symptoms of PTSD. Immigration-related variables included (1) having a parent deported during their childhood, (2) having a (nonparent) family member deported, (3) fear of having a parent or loved one deported, (4) fear of immigration enforcement encounters, and (5) having experienced an immigration raid. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine independent associations between immigration-related variables and PTSD. Results. Having a parent deported during childhood was associated with more than twice the odds of meeting criteria for PTSD symptoms. Having a loved one deported, fearing the deportation of a loved one, and having experienced an immigration raid were all associated with PTSD. Conclusions. It is imperative to better understand the long-term implications of immigration policies in perpetuating health inequities among US-born Latinos. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S6):S495-S504. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307660) [Formula: see text].

Alcohol Use Severity among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining Intragroup Marginalization, Bicultural Self-Efficacy, and the Role of Gender within a Stress and Coping Framework.

Most research on cultural stressors and alcohol has focused on intercultural stressors. Continuing to exclude intracultural stressors (e.g., intragroup marginalization) from alcohol research will yield a biased understanding of the experiences of Hispanics living in a bicultural society. As we amass more studies on intracultural stressors, research will be needed to identify mutable sociocultural factors that may mitigate the association between intracultural stressors and alcohol. To address these limitations, we examined the association between intragroup marginalization and alcohol use severity and the extent to which gender and bicultural self-efficacy may moderate this association. A convenience sample of 200 Hispanic emerging adults ages 18-25 (men = 101, women = 99) from Arizona (n = 99) and Florida (n = 101) completed a cross-sectional survey. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses. Higher intragroup marginalization was associated with higher alcohol use severity. Gender functioned as a moderator whereby intragroup marginalization was associated with higher alcohol use severity among men, but not women. Also, higher social groundedness functioned as a moderator that weakened the association between intragroup marginalization and alcohol use severity. Role repertoire did not function as a moderator. Our findings are significant because they enhance the reliability of the association between intragroup marginalization and alcohol use severity, and the moderating effect of gender in this respective association. This emerging line of research suggests that alcohol interventions targeting Hispanics may have a significant limitation by not accounting for intracultural stressors.

Two pathways to Mexico: Forced deportation or voluntary return of parents and US citizen children.

Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Mexican immigrants were deported from the United States or returned to Mexico voluntarily in the past two decades, taking with them their US-born citizen children (USCC). A family's relocation-forced deportation or voluntary return-and the subsequent settlement and adjustment to Mexico affect everyone's well-being. We interviewed 18 USCC whose parents were forcibly deported and 18 whose parents returned voluntarily about their circumstances, experiences, and perceptions. Four categories of relocation and adjustment issues emerged. USCC with deported parents felt the sudden and harsh arrest, detention, deportation, and separation from parents, and family reunification after deportation. Those in the voluntary-return group told of concerns about the planned separation and relocation to Mexico. Both groups experienced issues of family reintegration and adjustment to a new environment. While relocation prompted similarities and differences in families' settlement, issues unique to families played a part in children's adjustment. Clinicians in both the United States and Mexico must take into consideration the nature of the relocation, families' distinctive reactions, and the individual child's experience as some USCC will remain in Mexico and others will return to the US Mexican clinicians will encounter USCC still settling and adjusting to Mexico, and USCC who decide to remain permanently in Mexico. US clinicians may encounter USCC facing the challenges of re-entering American society, joining educational institutions, and becoming part of the labor force. USCC forming families may feel the impact of their pasts in parenting dynamics.

Black-White differences in barriers to specialty alcohol and drug treatment: findings from a qualitative study.

The objective of this study was to explore, in-depth, differences in barriers to specialty alcohol and drug treatment services between Black and White participants with recent substance use disorders (SUD). We recruited 34 participants with a recent SUD of White and Black racial/ethnic descent for qualitative interviews. Interviews were coded to identify barriers to specialty treatment. We found that barriers related to stigma and lack of social support were more pervasive in the narratives of Blacks as compared to Whites. Results suggest that stigma and lack of perceived social support may impact Blacks more than Whites in seeking SUD treatment.

Understanding differences in prescription drug misuse between two Texas border communities.

Objectives: The misuse of prescription drugs in the U.S. is an alarming public health crisis. Prior research at the U.S.-Mexico border has found high rates of prescription drug misuse, but with rates varying significantly across border communities. We aimed to examine a model of permissive climate measures and stress exposures as potential mediators of community differences in prescription drug misuse at the U.S.-Mexico border.Design: We analyzed data from the U.S.-Mexico Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions (UMSARC). Household, in-person interviews were conducted with Mexican-origin residents of the Texas border cities Laredo (n = 751) and Brownsville/McAllen (n = 814). Interviews assessed past-year misuse of any and pain-reliever prescription drugs. Drug availability, neighborhood safety, exposure to violence/crime, and social support were examined as potential mediators. Analyses were stratified by gender and employed regressions and mediation analysis with Mplus.Results: The past-year prevalence of any prescription drug misuse in Laredo was 26.3% among women and 24.4% among men, and in Brownsville/McAllen was 12.4% among men, and 6.7% among women. Mediation analysis revealed site effects via some of the hypothesized risk factors for men, but not for women. Specifically, for men, site effects on any and pain reliever prescription drug misuse were partially mediated via high drug availability and low family support.Conclusions: Past-year prescription drug misuse was over 3 times the 2015 national prevalence among both men and women in Laredo and calls for immediate attention. Findings regarding the model suggest drug availability and social support may be relevant to understanding community differences in prescription drug misuse among men living at the border, and that additional factors should be investigated to understand misuse among women living at the border.

Discrimination Trends and Mental Health Among Native- and Foreign-Born Latinos: Results from National Surveys in 2004 and 2013.

We examined national trends and mental health correlates of discrimination among Latinos in the USA. We used data from two nationally representative surveys based on the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected in 2004 and 2013. Results indicated that perceived discrimination, both any and recurrent, increased for Latinos across nearly every demographic, with the greatest increases occurring for Latinos who were ages 65 and older, had household incomes less than $35,000, were less educated, were immigrants, and who lived in the Midwest. Findings also indicated that any and recurrent discrimination were associated with increased odds of a mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder and this association was observed for nearly all manifestations of discrimination. We also observed a dose-response association where experiencing discrimination in a greater number of domains was associated with increased likelihood of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Results suggest that discrimination is a social stressor that has increased for Latino populations in recent years and may represent a serious risk factor for the psychological and behavioral health of Latinos. Findings are discussed in terms of prior research and the potential implications for prevention scientists working with Latino populations.

Deportation of Family Members of US-Citizen Latinos and Misuse of Prescription Drugs: United States, 2019.

Objectives. To investigate how personally knowing a deported migrant relates to past-year prescription drug misuse among US-citizen Latinos.Methods. Between April and May 2019, a national sample (n = 3446) was recruited to complete an online survey. Multivariate and multinomial logistic regression models examined the role of (1) personally knowing a deported migrant and (2) the relationship to the deportee (e.g., family, friend) on (1) any past-year prescription drug misuse and (2) the frequency of prescription drug misuse. I limited analyses to US citizens only (n = 3282).Results. Overall, 19% of all participants reported any past-year prescription drug misuse. Latinos who had a family member who was deported reported significantly higher odds of past-year prescription drug misuse and were exceedingly at higher risk for misusing prescription drugs 3 or more days in the past year as compared with Whites and Latinos who did not personally know a deported migrant.Conclusions. Public health prevention strategies and deportation policies need to consider and address how the deportation of an individual will affect the health of that individual's US-citizen family members.

Suprapectoral biceps tenodesis with bicortical drilling procedures: anatomic analysis of chondral and axillary nerve risk with transhumeral pin guide.

BACKGROUND: Many biceps tenodesis (BT) procedures are described for treating proximal biceps pathology. Axillary nerve injury has been reported during BT using bicortical drilling techniques with variable results depending on the location. In addition, there is a risk of potential articular damage during suprapectoral BT. We sought to determine the distance between the axillary nerve and the posterior passage of a bicortical pin, as well as the risk of articular damage, and to analyze whether a lateral inclination of the pin could avoid the chondral risk during suprapectoral BT with bicortical drilling. METHODS: Ten cadaveric shoulders were divided into 2 groups. In the first group, we determined the axillary nerve distance from the posterior exit point of 3 pins in a suprapectoral position 15 mm distal to the humeral cartilage: perpendicular, 10° caudal, and 20° caudal inclination. We measured 2 distances from the pin: to the axillary nerve and to the cartilage border. In the second group, we set one pin at the same perpendicular position and set the second pin 15° laterally tilted to determine its extra-articular passage. RESULTS: No pin injured the nerve, whereas all pins showed a transchondral direction. The 20° caudal inclination was the nearest to the nerve (18.8 mm [95% confidence interval, 5.5-32 mm]), but the perpendicular position was the safer position (38.8 mm [95% confidence interval, 28-49.6 mm]). Tilting the pin direction 15° laterally prevented cartilage damage (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Suprapectoral BT with bicortical drilling performed 15 mm distal to the humeral cartilage is a safe procedure regarding the axillary nerve. A potential humeral chondral injury could be prevented with 15° of lateral inclination of the pin guide.

Alcohol use severity, depressive symptoms, and optimism among Hispanics: Examining the immigrant paradox in a serial mediation model.

OBJECTIVE: Hispanic immigrants exhibit more positive outcomes than U.S.-born Hispanics across educational, psychological, and physical health indices, a phenomenon called the immigrant paradox. We examined the immigrant paradox in relation to alcohol use severity among Hispanic young adults while considering both positive (optimism) and negative (depressive symptoms) processes. METHOD: Among 200 immigrant and U.S.-born Hispanic young adults (Mage = 21.30; 49% male) in Arizona and Florida, we tested whether optimism and depressive symptoms statistically mediated the relationship between nativity and alcohol use severity. Specifically, we examined whether Hispanic immigrants reported greater optimism than their U.S.-born counterparts, and whether such optimism was, in turn, associated with less depressive symptoms and thus lower alcohol use severity. RESULTS: Indirect effects were significant in hypothesized directions (nativity → optimism → depressive symptoms → alcohol use severity). CONCLUSIONS: Both positive and negative psychological processes are important to consider when accounting for the immigrant paradox vis-à-vis alcohol use severity among Hispanic young adults.

Immigration Enforcement Policies and the Mental Health of US Citizens: Findings from a Comparative Analysis.

We examined the differential impact of having a family member, friend, or co-worker/community member detained or deported on the mental health of US citizens. In 2019, a sample of 3446 adult participants of White, Black, and Latinx racial/ethnic descent were recruited to complete an online questionnaire. Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 to screen for anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Analyses were restricted to US citizens (n = 3282). Multivariable logistic and linear regressions were conducted to examine the mental health of US citizens who reported personally knowing a migrant who has been detained or deported and by their relationship to the migrant, overall and among Latinxs only. Among US citizens, 32% reported personally knowing someone who has been detained or deported. In multivariable analyses, US citizens who personally knew a detained or deported migrant were more likely to report anxiety, depression, and greater psychological distress. Associations were more pronounced among those who reported having a family member detained or deported. US-citizen Latinxs with social ties to migrants who have been detained or deported were especially more likely to report poor mental health than White and Latinx participants who did not personally know a migrant who has been detained or deported. It is critical that policy makers consider the potential mental health harms on migrants and its own citizens when designing policies targeting migrant communities.

Relationships between iron dose, hospitalizations and mortality in incident haemodialysis patients: a propensity-score matched approach.

Background: Intravenous iron management is common in the haemodialysis population. However, the safest dosing strategy remains uncertain, in terms of the risk of hospitalization and mortality. We aimed to determine the effects of cumulative monthly iron doses on mortality and hospitalization. Methods: This multicentre observational retrospective propensity-matched score study included 1679 incident haemodialysis patients. We measured baseline demographic variables, haemodialysis clinical parameters and laboratory analytical values. We compared outcomes among quartiles of cumulative iron dose (mg/kg/month). We implemented propensity-score matching (PSM) to reduce confounding due to indication. In the PSM cohort (330 patients), we compared outcomes between groups that received cumulative iron doses above and below 5.66 mg/kg/month. Results: Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that the high iron dose group had significantly worse survival than the low iron dose group. A univariate analysis indicated that the monthly iron dose could significantly predict mortality. However, a multivariate regression did not confirm that finding. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that iron doses >5.58 mg/kg/month were not associated with elevated mortality risk, but they were associated with elevated risks of all-cause and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations. These results were ratified in the PSM population. Conclusions: Intravenous iron administration is advisable for maintaining haemoglobin levels in patients that receive haemodialysis. Our data suggested that large monthly iron doses, adjusted for body weight, were associated with more hospitalizations, but not with mortality or infection-related hospitalizations.

An Exploratory Study of Internal Migration and Substance Use Among an Indigenous Community in Southern Mexico.

The primary aim of this study was to explore the association between internal migration experience within Mexico and lifetime substance use among a sample of 442 indigenous persons from Yucatan, Mexico. Adjusting for potential confounding, correlates of lifetime substance use were assessed among participants with and without internal migration experience. Internal migration to a tourist destination was independently associated with higher odds (adjusted odds ratio: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-3.4) of reporting lifetime substance use. Findings suggest that environmental contexts of internal migration may be of importance in shaping vulnerability to substance use.

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.

The relationship between discrimination, alcohol use severity, and PTSD symptoms among Latinx heavy drinkers.

INTRODUCTION: Discrimination is linked to alcohol use severity among Latinx adults, who also show high prevalence rates of PTSD compared to non-Latinx adults. We know little about whether PTSD symptoms affects the relationship between discrimination and alcohol use severity. We hypothesized that the association between discrimination and alcohol use severity might differ by level of PTSD symptom severity. METHODS: This is a secondary cross-sectional analysis of data collected at baseline from a completed randomized clinical trial testing the relative efficacy of a culturally adapted motivational interview designed to address discrimination and drinking behavior against an unadapted motivational interview for Latinx adults. Eligible participants screened positive for the NIAAA Single Alcohol Screening Question for heavy drinking days, identified as Latinx, and were 18-65 years old. We assessed the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Primary Care PC-PTSD screener, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics. The study analyzed the main and interactive effects of discrimination and PTSD symptoms on alcohol use severity, while controlling for age, sex, household income, and acculturation. RESULTS: After controlling for covariates in model 2, the interaction of discrimination and PTSD symptoms was significantly related to alcohol use severity. Simple slopes analysis indicated that discrimination was positively related to alcohol use severity among those with high (1 SD above the mean) but not low (1 SD below the mean) levels of PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that the experiences of discrimination were associated with alcohol use severity among those who reported more PTSD symptoms. Specifically, discrimination may have a stronger effect on alcohol use severity among Latinx adults who report more PTSD symptoms. Screening Latinx adults for heavy drinking days, discrimination, and PTSD symptoms is clinically important. Culturally adapted alcohol interventions that target discrimination may be particularly effective for Latinx individuals with more PTSD symptoms.

Arthroscopically determined degree of injury after shoulder dislocation relates to recurrence rate.

BACKGROUND: The glenohumeral joint is the most mobile articulation in the body and the most commonly dislocated diarthrodial joint with peaks in the incidence of dislocation occurring during the second and sixth decades. Age at the time of the initial dislocation is inversely related to the recurrence rate. Traumatic anterior instability is often associated with intraarticular injuries. The frequency of injuries may increase with dislocation or subluxation episodes. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We compared the frequency of lesions associated with traumatic anterior instability in patients with primary and recurrent instability. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 96 selected patients with traumatic anterior instability treated arthroscopically between 2005 and 2008. Forty-five had arthroscopy after a first episode of dislocation (Group I) and 51 had two or more episodes of instability (Group II). We compared the frequencies and percentage of intraarticular lesions in both groups. RESULTS: We observed a Bankart lesion in all patients of both groups. The posterior Bankart lesion was observed more frequently in Group II than in Group I: 47% versus 28%. SLAP lesions were observed in 12% in Group I and 24% in Group II. In 10 patients in Group II, there was an associated rotator cuff tear. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with recurrent shoulder dislocation had a higher arthroscopic degree of injury. These patients presented more posterior labral lesions, SLAP tears, and rotator cuff pathology than patients with a first episode of shoulder dislocation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

'I like to protect my protector': How US-born Latinos safeguard the livelihood of their immigrant communities from immigration enforcement encounters.

Using a qualitative phenomenological design, the objective of this study was to explore in-depth how US-born Latinos provide social support to their immigrant counterparts during a time of heightened anti-immigrant rhetoric. A sample of 22 US-born Latino adult was recruited in 2019 for qualitative interviews, following a period of intense immigration raids. Eligible participants were adults who reported experiencing an immigration-related stressor and screened positive for a mental health concern or substance misuse. Open-ended questions focused on topics of immigration and health. Using a thematic analysis approach, interview transcripts were coded to identify common themes within the domains of social support: instrumental; informational; emotional; and appraisal. We found that US-born Latinos provide diverse forms of social support to immigrants with the intention of protecting them from immigration enforcement encounters (e.g. deportation), thereby safeguarding the livelihoods of their communities. US-born Latinos are integral pillars of support and resiliency for immigrant communities, and the domains identified within this study suggest important implications for immigrant health.

Missed opportunities by health care providers to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in the use of alcohol treatment services.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to: (1) investigate racial/ethnic differences in being offered information on alcohol treatment options by a health care provider; and (2) conduct stratified subgroup analyses to explore racial/ethnic differences in the use of alcohol treatment utilization among those who have received information on alcohol treatment services by a health care provider. METHODS: Data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015-2017) was used. Analyses were restricted to adult White, Black, and Latino participants who met diagnostic criteria for a past-year alcohol use disorder (AUD) and reported visiting a health care provider in the past-year (n = 4,939). A multivariable logistic regression model was estimated to investigate differences in being offered information on alcohol treatment by a health care provider by race/ethnicity. A sub analysis that was limited to participants who reported receiving information on alcohol treatment services by a health care provider (n = 481) was also conducted to explore racial/ethnic differences in treatment utilization. RESULTS: Overall, health care providers rarely provided information on alcohol treatment services to persons with AUD. In multivariable analyses, Latinos were less likely to receive information on alcohol treatment services than Whites, but no White-Black differences were documented. When analyses were restricted to those who had received information on alcohol treatment options, no racial/ethnic differences in the use of alcohol treatment services were found. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers can potentially encourage use of alcohol treatment among those in need and contribute to reducing existing alcohol-related racial/ethnic disparities.

New precontoured long locking plate for proximal metadiaphyseal fractures of the humerus: a cadaveric study for its use with the minimally invasive technique.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify nerves at risk when using a minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis precontoured long proximal humerus locking plate and to evaluate the risk of injury to deltoid insertion and brachialis muscle. METHODS: Ten cadaveric upper limb specimens were used. A transdeltoid anterolateral approach was performed proximally and a second anterior approach was performed distally. A 14-hole "low" long precountored ALPS locking plate (Biomet Trauma; Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA) was used. Subsequently, anatomic dissection to measure the anatomic relationship of the plate with the deltoid insertion, with the brachialis muscle, and with the axillary, radial, and musculocutaneous nerves was performed. RESULTS: The mean humeral length was 302 mm (standard deviation 52.3, 99% confidence interval: 259.3-344.6). In 6 specimens, the axillary nerve was located at the level of the third row of holes of the plate; in 3 specimens, at the level of the fourth row; and in one specimen, at the level of the second row. The distance between the plate and the musculocutaneous nerve was on average 10.2 mm (standard deviation 4, 99% confidence interval: 6.9-13.5) and between the plate and the radial nerve was on average 7.9 mm (standard deviation 4.7, 99% confidence interval: 4-11.8). The plate pierced the anterior distal fibers of the deltoid in all specimens. In 8 specimens, no brachialis muscle fibers were located under the plate. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the long precontoured 14-hole ALPS locking plate with the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique, previously identifying the axillary and musculocutaneous nerves, is feasible; however, the distances between the plate and the nerves remain low, so caution should be maintained. Despite the curved design of the plate, the deltoid insertion is partially compromised in all cases.

Barriers to retention in substance use treatment: Validation of a new, theory-based scale.

PURPOSE: Few studies and no theory-based scales have addressed specific barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment retention. The current study, building on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), sought to (a) identify those barriers that are most strongly associated with treatment retention, and most common, and (b) develop and validate a new scale of retention barriers, focusing on TPB attitude and perceived control components. METHODS: The study administered surveys to 200 participants initiating SUD treatment at a public, outpatient program in Northern California; the analytic sample (N = 156) included only those not strongly coerced into treatment. Surveys included TPB-based measures of treatment barriers; other motivational readiness measures; treatment coercion and social desirability measures; and clinical severity variables and demographics. Discharge status was collected from program records. RESULTS: Item and scale analyses identified three dimensions of attitudinal barriers (i.e., Low Perceived Treatment Need/Value, Social Concerns, and Concerns about Missing Substances) and two dimensions of perceived control barriers (i.e., Personal Limitations and Basic Logistic Barriers). Results informed creation of a 19-item Barriers to Retention Scale (BRS) with 5 subscales and very good internal reliability (alpha = 0.88). While all subscale scores were correlated with treatment completion, only Concerns about Missing Substances and total BRS scores predicted treatment completion in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified core dimensions of treatment retention barriers and developed a new scale predictive of treatment completion and potentially useful as a screener and in future research. Results suggest that interventions to improve retention should focus strongly on concerns about the negative impacts of abstaining from alcohol and drugs on craving and quality of life.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Mutual Help Group Participation for Substance Use Problems.

Mutual help groups are a ubiquitous component of the substance abuse treatment system in the United States, showing demonstrated effectiveness as a treatment adjunct; so, it is paramount to understand whether they are as appealing to, and as effective for, racial or ethnic minority groups as they are for Whites. Nonetheless, no known comprehensive reviews have examined whether there are racial/ethnic disparities in mutual help group participation. Accordingly, this study comprehensively reviewed the U.S. literature on racial/ethnic disparities in mutual help participation among adults and adolescents with substance use disorder treatment need. The study identified 19 articles comparing mutual help participation across specific racial/ethnic minority groups and Whites, including eight national epidemiological studies and 11 treatment/community studies. Most compared Latinx and/or Black adults to White adults, and all but two analyzed 12-step participation, with others examining "self-help" attendance. Across studies, racial/ethnic comparisons yielded mostly null (N = 17) and mixed (N = 9) effects, though some findings were consistent with a racial/ethnic disparity (N = 6) or minority advantage (N = 3). Findings were weakly suggestive of disparities for Latinx populations (especially immigrants, women, and adolescents) as well as for Black women and adolescents. Overall, data were sparse, inconsistent, and dated, highlighting the need for additional studies in this area.