Melissa L. Anderson|Bei?Hung Chang|Nisha Kini
Alcohol and Drug use among Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals: A Secondary Analysis of NHANES 2013–2014
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School|University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School|University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
background within field behavioral health research one understudied populations us deaf hardofhearing dhh populationa diverse group individuals hearing loss varied language communication preferences community affiliations sociocultural norms recent research identified concerning behavioral health disparities experienced dhh population yet little research conducted extend findings topic substance use disorder methods begin fill gap authors conducted secondary analysis data 20132014 administration national health nutrition examination survey comparing alcohol drug use participants based reported hearing status ie dhh hearing results findings suggest overall lifetime prevalence alcohol drug use differ based hearing status dhh hearing adolescents begin using cannabis similar timeline however findings also revealed dhh respondents likely regular cannabis users heavy alcohol users hearing respondents words dhh individuals use substances tend heavy users conclusions findings stress importance directing resources prevention treatment heavy alcohol use dhh population given binge drinking associated number health problems social consequences additionally continuation empirical work rather urgent given recent legislative changes regarding cannabis use dhh individuals possess number risk factors substance use disorder may greatly impacted legislative changes individuals general us population imperative impact captured future research efforts order inform development prevention intervention efforts traditionally underserved dhh population