Drug and Alcohol Review
Volume 35, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 196-205

Alcohol use among immigrants in Ontario, Canada (Article)

Agic B.* , Mann R.E. , Tuck A. , Ialomiteanu A. , Bondy S. , Simich L. , Ilie G.
  • a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
  • b Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
  • c Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
  • d Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
  • e Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  • f Center on Immigration and Justice, Vera Institute of Justice, New York, United States
  • g Neurosurgery Department, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada

Abstract

Introduction and Aims: This study examined prevalence of alcohol consumption among immigrants and the Canadian-born populations of Ontario by ethnic origin, and the association between ethnicity, country of birth, age at arrival, length of residence in Canada and drinking measures. Design and Methods: Data were derived from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Monitor, a cross-sectional survey of Ontario adults, conducted between January 2005 and December 2010 (n=13557). Results: The prevalence of alcohol consumption and risk drinking was generally lower among foreign-born than Canadian-born respondents, but significant variations across ethnic groups were found. In general, foreign-born respondents of European descent reported higher rates of alcohol use and risk drinking than foreign-born respondents from other ethnic groups. We also observed that ethnicity effects varied by whether or not respondents were born in Canada, and by the age at which they arrived in Canada. Discussion and Conclusions: While previous studies generally found an increase in immigrants' alcohol consumption with years in Canada, our data suggest that longer duration of residence may have either positive or negative effects on immigrants' alcohol use, depending on the country of origin/traditional drinking pattern. More research is needed to explore determinants of alcohol use and risk drinking among immigrants and to identify those groups at highest risk. © 2016 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Author Keywords

Risk drinking immigrants Alcohol Ethnicity Canada

Index Keywords

Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior human epidemiology Ethnic Groups statistics and numerical data ethnic group time factor Time Factors ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires cross-sectional study migrant Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor Risk Factors questionnaire prevalence high risk behavior Risk-Taking Ontario adult age Age Factors
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84925063944&doi=10.1111%2fdar.12250&partnerID=40&md5=b9941fd2fbf05964a05068248fd714f7
DOI: 10.1111/dar.12250
ISSN: 09595236
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English