Substance Abuse Issues In the Asian American Community

1
Substance Abuse Issues In the Asian American
Community

• Recovery Month Community Forum
• September 22nd, 2006

2
Asian Population in New York State

• According to the Census Bureau as of 2005 New
  York State has 19,254,630 people, and of that
  approximately 6.5 are Asian 1,251,550.
• That number represents 10 percent of the entire
  United States Asian population as residing in
  New York State.
• Over 75 of those Asians in New York State reside
  in New York City, representing roughly 7 of the
  United States Asian population.
• Asians are the fastest growing minority in NYC,
  from 1990-2000 the group grew 70 percent,
  compared to an overall population growth of just
  9 percent.

3
Cultural Factors

• Many Asian cultures believe issues such as
  addiction are to be resolved within the family,
  and that taking them outside the family is
  shameful.
• Drinking is seen as an acceptable way to deal
  with personal problems as long as you dont
  disgrace the family.
• Drinking can sometimes be a status symbol in
  social or business settings.
• Refusing a drink from a person of stature, an
  elder, or a boss, is seen as rude and
  disrespectful.
• Talk therapy is not common in Asian countries and
  can be difficult for Asians to utilize.

4
Barriers to Treatment

• Shame, guilt and stigma associated with addiction
  disorders in Asian cultures.
• Lack of culturally appropriate services with
  inadequate language capabilities.
• Lack of outreach efforts because of Asians being
  seen as a model minority who are not in need of
  services.

5
Model Minority Myth

• Due to immigration laws in Asia and the United
  States preference has been given to those with
  higher education and skilled labor expertise.
• Changes in Asian Nations and United States policy
  have lead to larger and more diverse immigration
  from Asian Nations in the last twenty years.
• This long held misconception that Asians do not
  suffer from the same afflictions as the rest of
  the population has lead to an under
  representation of Asians in treatment.

6
Asian Assimilation

• Language barriers, and difficulty learning
  English due to its vastly different grammatical
  structure from Asian languages
• Having to take available work, which can often be
  a step down from their work at home.
• Intergenerational issues regarding keeping
  traditions but wanting to adjust and fit into
  American culture.

7
Assimilation Continued

• Intergenerational communication issues
• Children bearing the burden of knowing English
  and navigating their parents through routine
  activities where English is needed.
• Children not being able to fully communicate with
  their parents because their Asian language
  proficiency is not on par with their parents.
• Parents stay in isolated communities to be near
  the familiar while children often explore outside
  these communities through school and other
  activities.

8
Assimilation Continued

• Facing racial discrimination and derision for
  many things including but not limited to language
  abilities.
• Regardless of time spent in America or
  Citizenship status having to answer the question
  But where are you from?
• Adjustment due to previous countrys adverse
  conditions
• War
• Poverty
• Oppression

9
Outreach

• Vital to reducing stigma and shame, and
  normalizing the idea that people can reach out
  and get help for addiction problems.
• Educating Asians as well as the people who serve
  them about the signs and symptoms to look for and
  the best approaches to engaging the client for
  treatment.
• Creating a network where all human service
  organizations serving Asians see the importance
  of screening for substance abuse issues, and make
  proper referrals.

10
Treatment Approaches

• Aversion to group counseling most Asian cultures
  are extremely private and taught not to share
  personal problems.
• Philosophical disconnect with 12 step approach
• Very responsive to the inclusion of medical
  staff, pharmacological treatment, and integrating
  overall health into the treatment plan.

11
Treatment Approaches

• Important to be aware of the clients culture and
  to recognize and integrate any Eastern approaches
  the client wants to take.
• Studies have demonstrated that treatment
  utilization by Asian Americans increases
  substantially when bilingual and culturally
  appropriate personnel provide the treatment
  Service.