D rug and A lcohol S ervices I nformation S ystem

The DASIS Report April 13, 2007

Hispanic Female Admissions in

Substance Abuse Treatment: 2005

T
he population of Hispanic females
In Brief in the United States has continued
to increase steadily over the last 5
● Hispanic female admissions were
years. In 2005, Hispanic females accounted
less likely than non-Hispanic
females to report primary alcohol
for 14 percent of the U.S. female population.1
abuse (23 vs. 32 percent) and Hispanic females include a mixture of ethnic
more likely to report primary subgroups which differ widely in substance
opiate abuse (21 vs. 19 percent) abuse patterns from the non-Hispanic
female population and from each other.
● Female admissions of Mexican These differences are captured in the Treat-
origin were younger than female ment Episode Data Set (TEDS), an annual
admissions of Puerto Rican, compilation of data on the demographic
Cuban, or “other Hispanic” origin characteristics and substance abuse prob-
for the primary substances of lems of those admitted to substance abuse
alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana treatment, primarily at facilities that receive
some public funding. TEDS records repre-
● Hispanic female admissions sent admissions rather than individuals, as a
were more likely than non-
person may be admitted to treatment more
Hispanic female admissions to
than once during a single year.2
be younger than 18 years old
(14 vs. 7 percent) and less likely This report uses 2005 TEDS data to
to be 45 years or older (12 vs. 18 examine substance abuse treatment ad-
percent) missions among females of Hispanic

The DASIS Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of
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For questions about this report please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
DASIS REPORT: HISPANIC FEMALE ADMISSIONS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT: 2005 April 13, 2007

origin. In TEDS, the term

Figure 1. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Female Admissions, by
“Hispanic” is used to describe a
Primary Substance of Abuse: 2005
population of known Central,
South American, or any other
35 Hispanic Females
Spanish cultural origin (including 32
Non-Hispanic Females
Spain), regardless of race. Hispanic 30
admissions are classified into four
subgroups—Mexican, Puerto Rican, 25 23
21 21
Cuban, and “other Hispanic.”3,4 In 19
20 18

Percent
this report, comparisons are made
between Hispanic and non- 15 14 14
13
12
Hispanic female admissions of
known race/ethnicity5 as well as 10
7 6
between ethnic subgroups within
5
Hispanic female admissions.6
0
Alcohol Opiates Stimulants Marijuana Cocaine Other
Hispanic Female
Admissions Source: 2005 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).

In 2005, Hispanic females

accounted for 10 percent of the Figure 2. Hispanic Female Admissions, by Primary Substance of
female substance abuse treatment Abuse and Ethnic Subgroup: 2005
admissions reported to TEDS
(approximately 61,000 admissions). 100
6
Of these, 41 percent were of Mexi- 6 16
can origin, 24 percent were of
80 35
Puerto Rican origin, 4 percent were 43 29 19
Other
of Cuban origin, and 31 percent
60 Stimulants
were identified as “other Hispanic.” 13 16
Percent

11 Opiates
13 Marijuana
15 14
40
Primary Substance 22 Cocaine
17 12 Alcohol
of Abuse 13
20
Alcohol and opiates were two of the 22 26 23
21
three most frequently reported 0
primary substances of abuse7 for Puerto Rican Mexican Cuban Other Hispanic
both Hispanic and non-Hispanic
Source: 2005 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).
female admissions in 2005 (Figure
1). However, Hispanic female
There were also distinct patterns
admissions were less likely than
in the primary substance of abuse Age Characteristics
non-Hispanic females to report
primary alcohol abuse (23 vs. 32 reported within Hispanic female Over half of both Hispanic and
percent) and more likely to report ethnic subgroups (Figure 2). The non-Hispanic female admissions to
primary opiate abuse (21 vs. 19 most frequently reported primary substance abuse treatment in 2005
percent). Hispanic female admis- substance of abuse was opiates were aged 25 to 44 years (54 and 56
sions were also more likely to report among female admissions of Puerto percent, respectively). Hispanic
stimulants as their primary Rican and Cuban origin (43 and 29 female admissions, however, were
substance (21 percent) than their percent, respectively), stimulants more likely than non-Hispanic
non-Hispanic counterparts (12 among those of Mexican origin (35 female admissions to be younger
percent). percent), and alcohol among those of than 18 years old (14 vs. 7 percent)
“other Hispanic” origin (23 percent). and less likely to be 45 years or older
(12 vs. 18 percent).
April 13, 2007 DASIS REPORT: HISPANIC FEMALE ADMISSIONS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT: 2005

opiates were older than their non-

Figure 3. Hispanic Female Admissions, by Age and Ethnic
Hispanic counterparts, with an
Subgroup: 2005
average age at admission of 37
versus 34 years (Table 1).
100
9 12 There were also differences
18 18
among the ethnic subgroups of
80 female Hispanic admissions in
50 average age at admission by the
52 45+ primary substance of abuse. For
60
Percent

25-44
63 60 most of the primary substances of
18-24 abuse (except opiates and stimu-
40
<18
lants), female admissions of Mexican
23
20 origin were younger than female
20
16 admissions of Puerto Rican, Cuban,
14
18 16 and “other Hispanic” origin (e.g.,
5 6
0 alcohol—31 vs. 38, 39, and 33 years,
Puerto Rican Mexican Cuban Other Hispanic respectively; cocaine—31 vs. 36, 37,
Source: 2005 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). and 33 years, respectively; mari-
juana—21 vs. 24, 23, and 22 years,
respectively).
Table 1. Average Age at Admission of Female Admissions, by
Primary Substance of Abuse and Ethnicity: 2005
End Notes
Alcohol Opiates Cocaine Stimulants Marijuana Other 1
U.S. Census Bureau. (2006, May). Annual
estimates of the population by sex, race and
Ethnicity Average Age at Admission Hispanic or Latino origin for the United States:
April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 (NC-EST2005-03).
Not Hispanic 37 34 36 30 25 33 Retrieved March 1, 2007, from http://www.
census.gov/popest/national/asrh/NC-
Hispanic 34 37 33 27 22 29 EST2005-srh.html
In 2005, TEDS collected data on 1.8 million
2
Mexican 31 37 31 27 21 27 admissions to substance abuse treatment
facilities. Four States and jurisdictions (AK, DC,
Cuban 39 33 37 29 23 34 NM, and WY) did not submit data for 2005.

Puerto Rican 38
Other Hispanic 33
Source: 2005 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).
Within Hispanic subgroups,
there were differences in age at
admission. Female admissions of
both Mexican and “other Hispanic”
origin had the largest percentages of
admissions in the younger age
groups—younger than 18 and aged
18 to 24—and the smallest percent-
ages in the older age groups—aged
25 to 44 and aged 45 or older
(Figure 3). Conversely, female
admissions of both Puerto Rican
and Cuban origin had the smallest
percentages of admissions in the
younger age groups—younger than
18 and aged 18 to 24—and the
37 36 29 24 31
3
The category “other Hispanic” includes both
admissions identified as being from Spanish-
speaking countries, but without further
35 33 27 22 28 classification, and those identified as Hispanic
whose country of origin was other than the
ones specified in TEDS (e.g., El Salvador,
Guatemala, etc.).
4
In 2005, six States (LA, NE, NH, OK, WI, and
WV) reported only “other Hispanic” subgroup
largest percentages in the older age admissions.
groups—aged 25 to 44 and aged 45 5
In 2005, four States (GA, RI, SD, and VT)
or older. reported ethnicity less than 75 percent of the
time and one other State (AL) did not report
ethnicity. Admissions where race is reported
and ethnicity is missing are considered “non-
Age by Primary 6
Hispanic.”
For more information on patterns of Hispanic
Substance of Abuse substance abuse, see: Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, Office
Although the average age at admis- of Applied Studies. (August 19, 2005). The
DASIS report: Hispanic substance abuse
sion to substance abuse treatment treatment admissions: 2003. Rockville, MD.
for Hispanic females was younger
7
The primary substance of abuse is the main
substance reported at the time of admission.
than for non-Hispanic females
overall (31 vs. 34 years), this pattern Suggested Citation
was not consistent across all primary Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
substances of abuse. In particular, Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (April
13, 2007). The DASIS Report: Hispanic female
Hispanic female admissions for admissions in substance abuse treatment: 2005.
Rockville, MD.
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Research Findings from SAMHSA’s 2005 Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS)

Hispanic Female The Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS) is an inte-
grated data system maintained by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). One

Admissions in Substance component of DASIS is the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). TEDS is
a compilation of data on the demographic characteristics and substance
abuse problems of those admitted for substance abuse treatment. The

Abuse Treatment: 2005
● Hispanic female admissions were less likely than
non-Hispanic females to report primary alcohol
abuse (23 vs. 32 percent) and more likely to
report primary opiate abuse (21 vs. 19 percent)
● Female admissions of Mexican origin were
younger than female admissions of Puerto
Rican, Cuban, or “other Hispanic” origin for the
primary substances of alcohol, cocaine, and
marijuana
● Hispanic female admissions were more likely
than non-Hispanic female admissions to be
younger than 18 years old (14 vs. 7 percent) and
less likely to be 45 years or older (12 vs.
18 percent)
information comes primarily from facilities that receive some public funding.
Information on treatment admissions is routinely collected by State admin-
istrative systems and then submitted to SAMHSA in a standard format.
TEDS records represent admissions rather than individuals, as a person
may be admitted to treatment more than once. State admission data are re-
ported to TEDS by the Single State Agencies (SSAs) for substance abuse
treatment. There are significant differences among State data collection
systems. Sources of State variation include completeness of reporting,
facilities reporting TEDS data, clients included, and treatment resources
available. See the annual TEDS reports for details. Approximately 1.8 mil-
lion records are included in TEDS each year.
The DASIS Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA;
Synectics for Management Decisions, Inc., Arlington, Virginia; and by RTI
International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (RTI International is
a trade name of Research Triangle Institute).
Information and data for this issue are based on data reported to
TEDS through February 1, 2006.
Access the latest TEDS reports at:
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/dasis.htm
Access the latest TEDS public use files at:
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/SAMHDA.htm
Other substance abuse reports are available at:
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Office of Applied Studies
www.samhsa.gov