The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Problem Gambling in New Mexico.

The study of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has consistently demonstrated a strong relationship with poor behavioral health outcomes. Further research is needed to understand if a specific ACE, or subcategorizations of ACEs, matter more for behavioral health outcomes. A study of the association between ACEs and problem gambling involving a racially mixed sample (13,217 participants) in New Mexico is presented to illustrate how certain ACEs may have a larger impact on behavioral health outcomes. The researchers examined: 1.) the impact that each individual ACE have on participant's reported problem gambling; 2) which group (abuse or household challenges) had a greater odds ratio and marginal impact on participant's self-reported gambling; and 3) which BRFSS subcategories (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, IPV, substance abuse, mental illness, parental separation or divorce, and incarcerated household member) had a greater odds ratio and marginal impact on participant's self-reported gambling. The results of this study indicate ACEs had a significant influence on problem gambling, and data suggests that when BRFSS data is examined in groups or subcategories there is a difference in the influence that ACEs have on problem gambling. In particular, we found that odds ratio to be significant when participants reported mental health problems in the home (OR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.02, 1.76], p < 0.04), living with incarcerated household members (OR = 1.75, 95% CI [1.28, 2.41], p < 0.001), how often adults hit each other (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.10, 1.52], p < 0.001), and how often anyone at least 5 years older than them forced them to have sex (OR = 1.42, 95% CI [1.10, 1.82], p < 0.01) In relation to types of abuse, There was a significant difference in self-reported problem gambling for individuals who reported sexual abuse (OR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.10, 2.46], p < 0.016), as well as participants reporting living with an incarcerated household member (OR = 2.08, 95% CI [1.34, 3.22], p < 0.001); approaching significant results also included individuals who witnessed their parents act violent towards one another (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [.99, 2.33], p < 0.055), and having parents who were separated or divorced (OR = 0.68, 95% CI [0.46, 1.00], p < 0.053). Finally, there was a significant difference in self-reported problem gambling for individuals who reported abuse (OR = 1.36, 95% CI [1.11, 1.66], p < 0.003), while participants reporting household challenges did not quite reach statistical significance (OR = 1.49, 95% CI [0.99, 1.33], p < 0.062. These findings show us that the way we ask questions about the precedence and outcomes of risky behavior matter and warrant further attention.

Compliance with a law to reduce alcoholic beverage sales and service in Zacatecas, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Research on the effects of restricting bar opening hours and alcohol sales in middle-income countries is very limited. We assessed compliance with and possible effects of a law enacted in Zacatecas, Mexico on December 30, 2017 and implemented in 2018 and 2019 that established a 2 AM bar closing time and 10 PM cut-off for alcohol sales by off-premises stores. METHODS: Monthly observations of bars and off-premises stores and alcohol mystery shopping visits from 2018 to early 2020 were conducted to assess compliance with the law. Breath tests were conducted in 2018 and 2019 with samples of pedestrians in the nighttime entertainment districts of Zacatecas and a comparison city (Aguascalientes). Surveys of bar owners/managers and staff, emergency medical personnel (EMP), and police officers were conducted in Zacatecas in 2018 and 2019 to assess awareness and support of the law and possible effects of the law on alcohol-related problems such as violence and injuries. RESULTS: Monthly observations indicated that a substantial percentage of bars and off-premises package stores did not comply with the law. Pedestrian breath tests in 2018 and 2019 indicated significant reductions in blood alcohol concentration and heavy drinking among pedestrians in Zacatecas from 11 PM to 2 AM compared to Aguascalientes, but not after 2 AM. Surveys of bar owners/managers indicated that most were aware and supportive of the law. EMP surveys indicated reductions in incidents of physical fighting and drunk or injured customers during the annual September fair in Zacatecas. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that restricting bar opening hours and alcohol sales may not result in full compliance by bars and off-premises stores, but may help to reduce excessive alcohol use and related harms in a middle-income country. A more rigorous evaluation with pre-intervention data is needed, however, to fully address this latter question.

Hitting the Wall: Youth Perspectives on Boredom, Trouble, and Drug Use Dynamics in Rural New Mexico.

We examine the experience of boredom and its relationship to troublemaking and drug use among rural youth in southwestern New Mexico. We draw on qualitative research with area youth to describe what they think about drug use and how they situate it within their social circumstances. We then locate youth drug use within globalized processes affecting this setting, including a local economic environment with limited educational and employment opportunities for youth. Drug use emerges as a common social practice that enables youth to ameliorate boredom, yet only some youth become known as troublemakers. Study findings offer insight into how dominant social institutions-schools and juvenile justice authorities-shape the construction of trouble from the perspectives of youth. We contend that boredom and troublemaking among rural youth are not simply age-appropriate forms of self-expression but instead represent manifestations of social position, political economic realities, and assessments of possible futures.