Theory and empirical evidence suggest that perceived barriers to opportunity, such as discrimination, can lead to the adoption of unhealthy behaviors. The study assessed the relationship between perceived racial/ethnic, language and legal status barriers to opportunity and substance use among Latino immigrant men in North Carolina. Logistic regression was used to test for the association between perceived barriers and odds of binge drinking in the past 30 days and cigarette smoking. In both crude and adjusted models, perceived language barriers (OR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.78-5.25) and legal status barriers (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.26-4.01) were associated with increased odds of having engaged in binge drinking. Perceived barriers to opportunity were not significantly associated with cigarette smoking. Further research is needed to better understand the effect of language and legal status barriers on health among Latino immigrants. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Latino Immigrant Alcohol discrimination tobacco

social psychology economics psychological aspect risk human jurisprudence Odds Ratio North Carolina Substance-Related Disorders alcohol language ethnology Hispanic Americans United States Humans smoking attitude Hispanic male Adolescent Emigrants and Immigrants Ethanol risk factor Risk Factors Article adult migration legal aspect Prejudice addiction employment