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

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE · 2020 · $89,910

## Abstract

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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10182020
- **Project number:** 3R21AA026689-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
- **Principal Investigator:** Erick Guerrero
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $89,910
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-20 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10182020

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10182020, Developing a Prevention Model of Alcohol Use Disorder for Pacific Islander Young Adults (3R21AA026689-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10182020. Licensed CC0.

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