SPA 6 Statistics -
VIII. Alcohol and Drug-Related Health Problems Back to Table of Contents
Alcohol and Drug-Related Hospitalizations
During 1999, there were 3,652 alcohol-related hospital discharges among residents of SPA 6 as determined by the examination of the principal diagnosis and four other diagnoses on the hospital discharge file (Table 29). The number of African American residents whose hospitalization was related to alcohol was 1,825, constituting 50% of all alcohol-related hospital discharges. They were followed by Latinos with 1,332 alcohol-related hospital discharges, representing 36% of all alcohol-related hospital discharges. White residents constituted 11% of alcohol-related hospital discharges with 404 hospitalizations. The remaining 91 alcohol-related hospital discharges (3%) were from other racial/ethnic groups.
The majority of residents hospitalized in relation to alcohol use were 25 to 64 years of age (80%). Persons in this age group constituted 84% of Latino residents and 80% of White residents hospitalized because of alcohol. However, 32% of alcohol-related hospital discharges among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 21% among African Americans as well as among persons from other racial/ethnic groups, 16% among Whites, and 10% among Latinos in SPA 6 during 1999 were 65 years and over.
During 1999, there were 3,817 drug-related hospital discharges among residents of SPA 6 (Table 30). Of these, 1,785 persons (24%) were hospitalized because of the use of cocaine, 702 (9%) were hospitalized because of opiate or heroin, 238 (3%) were hospitalized because of cannabis, 57 (1%) were hospitalized because of amphetamine, 55 (1%) were hospitalized because of barbiturate, and 980 residents (62%) were hospitalized because of using other drugs.
The number of African American residents hospitalized in relation to drug use was 2,587, constituting 68% of all drug-related hospital discharges (Table 31). They were followed by Latinos with 688 drug-related hospital discharges representing 18%, and Whites with 384 hospital discharges constituting 10% of all drug-related hospital discharges. The remaining 4% of drug-related hospital discharges were from other racial/ethnic groups.
Approximately 55% of persons hospitalized because of drug use were 25 to 44 years of age. Persons in this age group constituted 63% of drug-related hospital discharges among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 62% among persons from other racial/ethnic groups, 56% among Whites, 55% among Latinos, and 54% among African Americans hospitalized because of drug use. Persons less than 25 years of age represented 23% of drug-related hospital discharges among Latinos. This age group constituted 11% of drug-related hospital discharges among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 7% among African Americans, and 6% among Whites as well as among persons from other racial/ethnic groups.
Persons Receiving Alcohol and Drug Services
During fiscal year 2000-2001, the number of SPA 6 residents receiving alcohol and drug services was 5,648 (Table 32). Persons reporting cocaine/crack as their primary drug problem represented the largest group of SPA 6 residents attending alcohol and drug programs, 2,167 persons (39%). The second highest number of persons receiving alcohol and drug services reported alcohol as their primary problem, 1,379 persons (24%). They were followed by heroin users, 1,020 persons (18%); marijuana/hashish users, 751 (13%); and methamphetamine users, 160 (3%) of SPA 6 residents receiving alcohol and drug services during fiscal year 2000-2001. The remaining 171 persons (3%) reported using other drugs.
The 5,648 SPA 6 residents who received alcohol and drug services attended various types of programs. Of these, 3,609 (64%) received non-residential treatment services; 375 (7%) attended non-residential detoxification programs which provide methadone maintenance services; 191 (3%) were admitted to residential detoxification programs; and 1,473 persons (26%) were admitted to short-term or long-term residential treatment programs.
Sixty-two percent of alcohol users attended non-residential treatment programs, while 36% attended long-term residential treatment programs. Forty-six percent of heroin users received non-residential treatment and another 46% received residential or non-residential detoxification services. With regards to persons using cocaine/crack, 65% obtained non-residential treatment services and 32% were admitted to long-term residential treatment programs. Fifty-five percent of persons reporting methamphetamine as their primary problem received non-residential treatment services and 44% were admitted to long-term residential treatment programs. About 88% of marijuana/hashish users attended non-residential treatment programs and 12% were admitted to long-term residential treatment programs.
Liquor Licenses
As of January 1, 2000, there were 689 off-sale liquor licenses (liquor stores) and 222 on-sale liquor licenses (restaurants and bars) in SPA 6 (Table 33). The rate of off-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population in the entire SPA was 65, while the rate of on-sale liquor licenses was 21 per 100,000 population. The highest number of off-sale liquor licenses existed in Compton (82), followed by South Central Los Angeles (75), Exposition Park (70), Florence (67), and Hyde Park (66) off-sale liquor licenses. Rates of off-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population were highest in the community of Humphry with a rate of 109, Paramount with a rate of 98, West Compton/Los Angeles County with a rate of 93, Florence with a rate of 92, and Adams with a rate of 89 off-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population.
With regard to on-sale liquor licenses, the community of Exposition Park had the highest number with 104, Compton had 101, Hyde Park had 94, South Central Los Angeles had 90, and Florence had 87 on-sale liquor licenses. Rates of on-sale liquor licenses show high concentration in the City of Paramount, with 162 licenses per 100,000 population. The city was followed by the community of Humphry with a rate of 131; Florence and Hyde Park, each with a rate of 119; Adams with a rate of 113; and West Compton/Los Angeles County with a rate of 112 on-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population.
