Developing a Prevention Model of Alcohol Use Disorder for Pacific Islander Young Adults

摘要

Abstract This administrative supplement proposes to re-survey Pacific Islander young adults from our parent R21 to understand their unique alcohol risks and harms during, and in response to, the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we will survey 18-30-year old young adult participants in two large Pacific Islander communities that have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 crisis: Samoans in Los Angeles County and Marshallese in Northwest Arkansas. In prior R21 data collected from these participants, we determined that Pacific Islander young adults are at exceptional risk for alcohol misuse and related harms with an alarming 56% of participants screening positive for hazardous drinking, 49% for alcohol use disorder, and 40% experiencing significant alcohol-related harms. It is in this context of elevated alcohol burden and high-risk drinking that community concern has emerged regarding the potential negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pacific Islander young adults’ alcohol- related behaviors and health outcomes; as many work in high-risk settings such as meat-packing factories— the number one source of COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. The specific goals of this research are to (1) assess Pacific Islander young adults’ COVID-19-related knowledge and risk of exposure, and (2) re-assess their alcohol use, misuse, comorbid substance use, and alcohol-related harms. Using remote survey methods designed to assess substance use in Pacific Islander community populations, the information gathered in this study will allow us to explore participants’ data longitudinally to understand the scope of Pacific Islanders’ exposure to COVID-19-related (1) health challenges, and (2) changes in Pacific Islanders’ alcohol use and associated harms. The findings of this study will be disseminated to Pacific Islander stakeholders and response teams to support ongoing community efforts to increase public awareness of Pacific Islander health disparities during this urgent health crisis.