Possible barriers to enrollment in substance abuse treatment among a diverse sample of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Opinions of treatment clients

• Published in: Journal of substance abuse treatment Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 309 - 315
• Main Authors: Masson, Carmen L., Ph.D, Shopshire, Michael S., Ph.D, Sen, Soma, Ph.D, Hoffman, Kim A., Ph.D, Hengl, Nicholas S., B.A, Bartolome, John, M.A, McCarty, Dennis, Ph.D, Sorensen, James L., Ph.D, Iguchi, Martin Y., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-04-2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Asian; Asian American people; Asian Americans; Asian Americans - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; California - epidemiology; Constraints; Criminal justice; Cultural barriers; Cultural competence; Cultural Competency; Cultural differences; Cultural Sensitivity; Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal; Drug addiction; Facilitators; Family; Female; Hawaii - epidemiology; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Minority Groups; Miscellaneous; Motivation; Oceanic Cultural Groups; Pacific Islander; Pacific Islander people; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Peer Group; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Substance Abuse; Substance abuse treatment; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers - utilization; Substance abusers; Substance-Related Disorders - ethnology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - therapy; Treatment; Treatment Programs; Treatments; Young Adult; Pacific Islands Us; United States; Polynesia; America; Hawaii; North America; Oceania; California; United States > US; Substance abuse treatment; Pacific Islander; Cultural barriers; Cultural competency; Asian; Human; Drug addiction; Ethnic origin; Asiatic; Poison withdrawal; Accessibility; American; Customer; Sample; Substance abuse; Barrier; Ethnic group; Care; Treatment; Addiction; Cultural aspect; Public health
• ISSN: 0740-5472; 1873-6483
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2012.08.005

Abstract This mixed methods study examined motivations and barriers to substance abuse treatment entry and treatment continuation among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) substance users. AAPI substance users ( N = 61) were recruited from substance abuse treatment programs in California and Hawaii. Semi-structured interviews and interviewer-administered surveys assessed barriers and facilitators to entering substance abuse treatment. Barriers included peer pressure, family influences, and face loss concerns. Facilitators included peer support, involvement in the criminal justice system, a perceived need for treatment, and culturally competent substance abuse treatment services. Family and peer influences may act as both facilitators and impediments. AAPI substance using populations face many of the same individual-level and structural and systems barriers to entry to treatment as other substance using populations. However, similar to other racial/ethnic minority groups, it is important to address cultural differences and develop culturally competent substance abuse treatments for the AAPI population.