The goal of Dr. Pinedo's research to inform new paradigms for health policies and programs aimed at reducing health disparities among Latino populations. To meet this goal, he has developed two highly focused lines of research that examine critical social determinants of health that are salient among Latino populations (e.g., immigration-related stressors) that may help explain and address existing health disparities related to substance misuse and use of treatment services. His first line of research examines how stressors stemming from immigration enforcement policies (e.g., deportations, fear of deportation) shape vulnerability to substance misuse among Latinos. His second line of work investigates factors that discourage Latinos in need from using substance use treatment services. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, his research underscores the importance of structural (e.g., immigration policies, deportations), social (e.g., anti-immigration discrimination), and cultural (e.g., cultural perceptions surrounding substance use) factors in influencing the health behaviors, risk practices, and health outcomes of Latinos.
Prior to joining UT, Dr. Pinedo received his PhD in Public Health (Global Health) from UC San Diego and completed his postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley. He also previously earned his Master in Public Health from UC Berkeley.
B.A. in Latin American Studies (Honors with Distinction), University of California, San Diego
B.S. in Psychology, University of California, San Diego
M.P.H. in Health & Social Behavior, University of California, Berkeley
Ph.D. in Global Health, University of California, San Diego
My work primarily investigates how social- and structural-level factors relate to the epidemiology of substance abuse and related harms among Latinos. This research has expanded the focus from individual-level factors that influence health and underscores the importance of social determinants of health that especially affect Latinos (e.g., migration-related factors, acculturation) in shaping substance use behaviors.
Pinedo, M., Zemore, S. & Rogers, S. (2018). Understanding barriers to specialty substance abuse treatment among Latinos. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 94, 1-8..
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,
94, 1–8. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.08.004.
Pinedo, M., Zemore, SE., Cherpitel, CJ. & Caetano, R. (2017). Acculturation and alcohol use: the role of environmental contexts.
Handbook of Acculturation and Health. Oxford University Press (pp. 239). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. (
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Pinedo, M., Beletsky, L., Alamillo, N. & Ojeda, VD. (2017). Health-damaging policing practices among persons who inject drugs in Mexico: Are deported migrants at greater risk?.
International Journal of Drug Policy(46), 41–46. (
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Pinedo, M., Kang Sim, E., Espinoza, RA. & Zuñiga, ML. (2015). An exploratory study of internal migration and substance use among an indigenous community in Southern Mexico.
Family & Community Health,
1(39), 24–30. (
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Pinedo, M., Burgos, JL., Vargas-Ojeda, A., Fitzgerald, DS. & Ojeda, VD. (2015). The role of visual markers in police victimization among structurally vulnerable persons in Tijuana, Mexico.
International Journal of Drug Policy,
26(5), 501–508. (
View)
Pinedo, M., Burgos, JL. & Ojeda, VD. (2014). A critical review of social and structural conditions that influence HIV risk among Mexican deportees.
Microbes and Infection,
5(16), 379–390. (
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Pinedo, M., Burgos, JL., Robertson, AM., Vera, A., Remedios, L. & Ojeda, VD. (2014). Perceived risk of HIV infection among deported male injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico..
Global Public Health,
4(9), 436–454. (
View)
Pinedo, M., Campos, Y., Leal, D., Fregoso, J., Goldenberg, SM. & Zuñiga, ML. (2014). Alcohol use behaviors among indigenous migrants: A transnational study on communities of origin and destination.
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health(16), 348–355. (
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Understanding barriers to specialty alcohol treatment among Latinos: A qualitative study
National studies have documented that Latinos are less likely to use specialty substance abuse treatment (e.g., rehabilitation programs, in/out-patient services) than other racial/ethnic groups. Disparities in treatment utilization are particularly pronounced between Latinos and Whites. However, few national studies have explicitly examined barriers to treatment by race/ethnicity, and current results are inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of barriers to specialty substance abuse treatment among Latinos via qualitative interviews.
The role of deportations of others on the health of US-born Latinos
This national study will examine the role of migration-related factors (e.g., knowing someone who has been deported, having a migrant family member) on the mental health and substance use behaviors of US-citizen Latinos. Further, this study will compare how these outcomes vary across other racial/ethnic groups, namely White and Black participants. The overarching goal of the study is to provide a new perspective on health disparities by highlighting the importance of migration as a social determinant of health among Latinos, regardless of nativity status.
Migration & Health Study: Latinos in Austin, Texas
This qualitative study will explore in-depth how migration-related stressors (e.g., anti-immigration sentiments, deportations) influence the mental health and substance using behaviors of Latinos in Austin.
The National Alcohol Treatment Services Study
Latinos are less likely to use specialty alcohol treatment than other racial and ethnic groups, with the greatest disparity being between Latinos and Whites. There are few studies that effectively examine the barriers to treatment in these populations. This project will validate a newly developed, theory-driven treatment scale called the Barriers to Specialty Alcohol Treatment Scale (BSAT) through cognitive interviews. Following, 1,200 participants will be recruited to complete the BSAT, for psychometric testing. Analyses will investigate barriers driving Latino-White disparities in treatment utilization and enhance our understanding of this disparity. This project is funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; R01AA027767; PI: Pinedo
Immigration-related stressors & substance misuse among US-born Latinos
The goal of this study is to better understand the role of immigration enforcement policies on the substance-using behaviors of US-born Latinos. This work was prompted by the recognition that the impacts of immigration enforcement policies (i.e., deportations) extend beyond the individual immigrant being deported and also affects non-immigrant family members and communities. US-born Latinos experience trauma when immigrant family members are deported. Immigration enforcement practices are also rooted in racism and racial profiling. As such, US-born Latinos are also vulnerable to the same experiences as immigrants (e.g., being scrutinized over their citizenship status, anti-immigration experiences). Thus, stressors stemming from immigration enforcement policies have the potential to not only shape vulnerability to substance misuse, but also exacerbate or perpetuate existing racial/ethnic disparities.
National Award of Excellence in Research by a New Investigator, National Hispanic Science Network. (2020)
Loan Repayment Program Award, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (2016 - 2018)
Interdisciplinary Research Training Institute on Hispanic Drug Abuse Fellowship, National Institute on Drug Abuse (2016 - 2018)
NIAAA T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship Postdoctoral Fellowship, Alcohol Research Group & UC Berkeley (2015 - 2017)
National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, NIDA (2013 - 2015)
Christian Escobar, Ph.D., expected 2026 (Supervisor)Christian is a masters student in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education where he is pursuing his degree in health behavior and health education. He is a certified athletic trainer, licensed in the state of Texas. He received his bachelors degree in athletic training from Grand Canyon University and a masters degree from The University of Texas. His research interests include how social determinants impact health and physical activity in latino populations.
| Year | Semester | Course |
|---|
| 2023 | Spring | HED 395: 7-Foundations Of Epidemiology |
| 2023 | Spring | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2022 | Fall | HED 196: Doctoral Seminar |
| 2022 | Fall | HED 370K: Publ Hlth Challngs Us/Mex Brdr |
| 2022 | Fall | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2022 | Spring | HED 395: 7-Foundations Of Epidemiology |
| 2021 | Fall | HED 370K: Publ Hlth Challngs Us/Mex Brdr |
| 2021 | Spring | HED 395: 7-Foundtns Of Epidemiology-Wb |
| 2020 | Fall | HED 370K: Pub Hlth Challngs Mex Brdr-Wb |
| 2020 | Spring | HED 395: 7-Foundations Of Epidemiology |
| 2019 | Fall | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2019 | Spring | HED 395: 7-Foundations Of Epidemiology |
| 2019 | Spring | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2018 | Fall | HED 196: Doctoral Seminar |
| 2018 | Fall | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2018 | Spring | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2017 | Fall | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
Migration and Health Lab
The Migration and Health Lab focuses on better understanding how migration impacts the health of populations, primarily among Latino communities in the US and Mexico. Our work underscores the importance of migration-related factors in shaping vulnerability to alcohol and substance abuse, HIV, and related harms.
