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Drinking cultures and socioeconomic risk factors for alcohol and drug use disorders among first- and second-generation immigrants : A longitudinal analysis of Swedish population data

Cook, Won Kim ; Li, Xinjun LU ; Sundquist, Kristina LU ; Kendler, Kenneth S. LU ; Sundquist, Jan LU and Karriker-Jaffe, Katherine J. LU (2021) In Drug and Alcohol Dependence 226.
Abstract

Background: Few longitudinal studies investigate predictors of substance use incidence among immigrants. The current study describes substance use disorders in immigrants to Sweden, focusing on drinking culture in the country of origin and socioeconomic status (SES), and how these intersect with generational status to influence risk. Methods: Using pseudonymized Swedish population registry data, we track onset of alcohol use disorder and drug use disorder in a longitudinal study of 815,778 first-generation immigrants and 674,757 second-generation immigrants from 64 countries over a 6-year period. Cox regression analysis estimated risks of alcohol and drug use disorders in second-generation immigrants compared to first-generation, and... (More)

Background: Few longitudinal studies investigate predictors of substance use incidence among immigrants. The current study describes substance use disorders in immigrants to Sweden, focusing on drinking culture in the country of origin and socioeconomic status (SES), and how these intersect with generational status to influence risk. Methods: Using pseudonymized Swedish population registry data, we track onset of alcohol use disorder and drug use disorder in a longitudinal study of 815,778 first-generation immigrants and 674,757 second-generation immigrants from 64 countries over a 6-year period. Cox regression analysis estimated risks of alcohol and drug use disorders in second-generation immigrants compared to first-generation, and moderation analyses assessed interactions of generational status with country-of-origin per capita alcohol consumption and SES. Results: Immigrants and second-generation immigrants originating from countries with high levels of alcohol consumption had higher risks for alcohol and drug use disorders. Immigrants with high SES had lower risks for alcohol and drug use disorders. The interaction between generational status and country-of-origin alcohol consumption was significant for drug use disorder (not for alcohol use disorder), with drug use disorder risk for second-generation immigrants being highest for those from countries with the lowest level of country-of-origin per capita alcohol consumption. The interaction between generational status and SES was significant for alcohol use disorder, with low-SES second-generation immigrants showing markedly higher risk than first-generation immigrants with comparable SES. Conclusions: Among immigrants in Sweden, second-generation immigrants are at increased risk of developing alcohol and drug use disorders, particularly if they have lower SES. Policy and community attention to these high-risk subgroups in immigrant communities is warranted.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alcohol use disorder, Drinking culture, Drug use disorder, Immigrant, Social determinants of health
in
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
volume
226
article number
108804
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:34216865
  • scopus:85109197910
ISSN
0376-8716
DOI
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108804
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b5fe2217-943e-47aa-b595-e5c315a6d86f
date added to LUP
2021-08-17 14:09:43
date last changed
2024-04-20 09:29:01
@article{b5fe2217-943e-47aa-b595-e5c315a6d86f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Few longitudinal studies investigate predictors of substance use incidence among immigrants. The current study describes substance use disorders in immigrants to Sweden, focusing on drinking culture in the country of origin and socioeconomic status (SES), and how these intersect with generational status to influence risk. Methods: Using pseudonymized Swedish population registry data, we track onset of alcohol use disorder and drug use disorder in a longitudinal study of 815,778 first-generation immigrants and 674,757 second-generation immigrants from 64 countries over a 6-year period. Cox regression analysis estimated risks of alcohol and drug use disorders in second-generation immigrants compared to first-generation, and moderation analyses assessed interactions of generational status with country-of-origin per capita alcohol consumption and SES. Results: Immigrants and second-generation immigrants originating from countries with high levels of alcohol consumption had higher risks for alcohol and drug use disorders. Immigrants with high SES had lower risks for alcohol and drug use disorders. The interaction between generational status and country-of-origin alcohol consumption was significant for drug use disorder (not for alcohol use disorder), with drug use disorder risk for second-generation immigrants being highest for those from countries with the lowest level of country-of-origin per capita alcohol consumption. The interaction between generational status and SES was significant for alcohol use disorder, with low-SES second-generation immigrants showing markedly higher risk than first-generation immigrants with comparable SES. Conclusions: Among immigrants in Sweden, second-generation immigrants are at increased risk of developing alcohol and drug use disorders, particularly if they have lower SES. Policy and community attention to these high-risk subgroups in immigrant communities is warranted.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cook, Won Kim and Li, Xinjun and Sundquist, Kristina and Kendler, Kenneth S. and Sundquist, Jan and Karriker-Jaffe, Katherine J.}},
  issn         = {{0376-8716}},
  keywords     = {{Alcohol use disorder; Drinking culture; Drug use disorder; Immigrant; Social determinants of health}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Drug and Alcohol Dependence}},
  title        = {{Drinking cultures and socioeconomic risk factors for alcohol and drug use disorders among first- and second-generation immigrants : A longitudinal analysis of Swedish population data}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108804}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108804}},
  volume       = {{226}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}