Bilingual drug abuse communication

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of special, bilingual explanations of drug abuse treatment services on the rate and characteristics of Mexican-American admissions to agencies providing those services. Procedure: Procedures used in the study consisted of: (1) development of an Advisory Group of drug abuse specialists, community planning experts, communications professionals and Mexican-American community leaders. This group provided guidance and counsel in the development of written and audio-visual materials and in the selection of sites most appropriate for treatment; (2) development of bilingual brochure material and an audio-visual presentation, both of which contained the same factual material in description of treatment programs operating in Harris County, Texas; (3) presentation of audio-visual materials and distribution of written materials in community centers. This treatment was conducted in such a way as to produce rapid extension of information into Mexican-American populations of two, separate sectors of the community, each of which represented approximately one-third of the total Mexican-American populace of the County; and (4) comparison of Mexican-American intakes into treatment programs between the two areas of study treatment and between each of those areas and a third district which was used as a control group, receiving neither brochures nor audio-visual materials. Results: Data produced from the study showed a significant increase in intakes from the area receiving audio-visual presentations, as against intakes prior to such treatment. The study also showed a marked change in the profiles of clients from the audio-visual presentation area, placing them in much closer congruity to control group profiles after presentations. Conclusions: Bilingual, multi-media drug abuse treatment descriptions, presented in a manner to insure rapid spread of information into a Mexican-American subculture, produced significant increases of intakes into treatment programs so described. Audio-visual treatments were considerably more productive than written treatments, both in the volume of increased intakes and in the longevity of their effect. In addition, a subcultural communications system appeared to work effectively in the Mexican-American community of Harris County, Texas.