Statewide Platform Developed to Attack Alcohol Problems in Latino Communities; Latino Researchers, Policy Advocates Hold First-Ever Alcohol Policy Symposium.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 1998--National state and local researchers and advocates in the field of substance abuse prevention among Latinos held a unique, first-ever alcohol policy symposium today at San Jose State University.

Sponsored by the Latino Leadership United for Healthy Communities, and supported by CalPartners Coalition, the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Santa Clara County and San Jose State University, the symposium was designed to develop a statewide prevention policy platform.

Today's symposium brought together both research on alcohol-related problems in Latino communities, and examples of community policies that have been effective in preventing these problems.

Maria Luisa Alaniz, Ph.D., a San Jose State University Associate Professor and Study Director at the Prevention Research Center in Berkeley, said the disproportionate number of alcohol-related problems among Latinos led to the symposium.

"This is the first time a forum has been held to discuss the connection between research, public policies and community mobilization that can be used to counter the variety of alcohol-related problems in Latino communities," Alaniz said. "By using the public health model to try to solve these problems, we can change some of the conditions in these communities. This symposium is a unique because it brings together researchers, community advocates and policy makers to develop solutions and next steps."

The steering committee of the Latino Leadership United for Healthy Communities, which initiated the symposium, will now disseminate the research and community-based prevention programs through a statewide report made up of the platforms and action plans developed today. The reports will be made available to communities, healthcare providers, elected officials and individuals.

"We hope that by publishing all of the recommendations that came from this important meeting, they will be used to help make our communities safer and healthier places to live," said Eduardo Hernandez, Ph.D., Project Director of CalPartners Coalition.

Hernandez pointed to some of the research presented today which shows that: -0-

--   liver disease is the sixth leading cause of death among Latinos;

--   heavy concentrations of alcohol outlets and alcohol
     advertisements in Latino communities increases the rates of
     violent crime, especially against Latinas; and

--   school children in Latino communities can see up to 61 alcohol
     advertisements on their way to and from school each day.

-0-

Hernandez stressed that research also shows that community policy change helps prevent these problems. "Rather than changing behavior, we're talking about changing the community environment," Hernandez said. "For example, reducing the number of alcohol retailers and advertisements to a reasonable level, enforcing regulations on alcohol sales and getting youth involved in preventing violence all actually help reduce disease, the number of DUIs, underage drinking, violence and other crimes."

Community prevention advocates from all parts of California also presented examples of the best policy changes in their communities. Some of the more effective policies presented included policies that helped: -0-

--   reduce alcohol availability in communities like Salinas and South
     Central Los Angeles;

--   bring attention to the aggressive Latino-targeted advertising,
     marketing and promotion of alcoholic beverages by alcohol
     companies in California; and

--   bring Southern California Latino youth together to focus on
     preventing violence as a means to reducing the use of alcohol.

-0-

A national perspective was also offered by Jeannette Noltenius, Ph.D., of the Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco in Washington, D.C. "Trends nationwide tend to mirror what's happening in California," Noltenius said. "Latinos are a rapidly growing population group in the United States and with that comes serious challenges in the areas of healthcare, poverty and increased alcohol advertising targeted toward Latinos. We have to do address these problems before they get worse." -0-

Other presenters included:

--   Juana Mora, Ph.D. -- Professor of Chicana/o Studies at CSU
     Northridge.

--   M. Jean Gilbert, Ph.D. -- Director of Cultural Competence at
     Kaiser Permanente.

--   Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D. -- Professor of Psychology at
     CSU Fresno, Project Director of the Mexican American Prevalence
     and Services Survey, and member of the World Health
     Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview
     Advisory Committee.