Short Report
Do cultural and linguistic competence matter in Latinos’ completion of mandated substance abuse treatment?
1 School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 655 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-041, USA
2 Gambling Studies Program, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite 38-260, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
3 Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, 11075 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA, 90025, USA
4 Center for Chinese Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 11381 Bunche Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1487, USA
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2012, 7:34 doi:10.1186/1747-597X-7-34
Published: 16 August 2012Abstract
Background
Increasing evidence suggests that culturally and linguistically responsive programs may improve substance abuse treatment outcomes among Latinos. However, little is known about whether individual practices or culturally and linguistically responsive contexts support efforts by first-time Latino clients to successfully complete mandated treatment.
Methods
We analyzed client and program data from publicly funded treatment programs contracted through the criminal justice system in California. A sample of 5,150 first-time Latino clients nested within 48 treatment programs was analyzed using multilevel logistic regressions.
Results
Outpatient treatment, homelessness, and a high frequency of drug use at intake were associated with decreased odds of treatment completion among Latinos. Programs that routinely offered a culturally and linguistically responsive practice—namely, Spanish-language translation—were associated with increased odds of completion of mandated treatment.
Conclusions
These preliminary findings suggest that concrete practices such as offering Spanish translation improve treatment adherence within a population that is at high risk of treatment dropout.
