An agenda for longitudinal research on substance use and abuse with hispanics in the U.S. and with Latin American Populations

Abstract

As a result of the fast growing Hispanic population and the overrepresentation of substance use, including the social, political, and economic risk factors they experience, there is an urgent need for more research to be conducted to better understand the etiology of substance use across developmental stages among the large diversity that exist among Hispanic populations. The main goal of this chapter is to provide a convincing argument to encourage more longitudinal research with Hispanic youth and their families to develop a more comprehensive body of knowledge about substance use among these populations, knowledge that, we argue, can better inform the field of prevention and treatment with these populations.