The Asian and Pacific Islander communities have the highest level of diversity than any other population group living in United States. They speak over 2000 languages, come from over 48 sovereign nations and all have varying degrees of acculturation. Many are immigrants but Pacific Islanders are considered natives and all have their own unique belief about community, substance use disorders and participation is medication assisted treatments. There is evidence that higher the degree of acculturation leads to substance use disorder patters similar to the general American population but on the whole, API's have the lowest substance use rates among those receiving treatment services which make it more difficult to identify and service. People with substance use and mental health disorders are often seen as a source of shame for the family. While seeking services is the right thing to do, it rarely reduces the negative connotation because the cultural believes are engrained and slow to change.
Practitioners wishing to reach the Asian and Pacific Island people for MAT should pay close attention to language and cultural needs of the client and their families. Those who understand their clients' unique perspective are more likely to engage the client and have successful treatment outcomes. The public health research has found that when services are delivered in their language, in locations close to their living environment with an interest in the clients culture and wellness, will likely be rewarded with successful health outcomes and rewarding relationships.
You are invited to enroll in the ATTC Network's online training and select the Asian/Pacific Islander special population module.
This module will help you understand the wide variety of clients categorized under the umbrella of Asian and Pacific Islanders. You will also be introduced to public health engagement and intervention strategies that have been proven effective and adaptable to providing MAT to clients with substance use disorders.
Selected Resources
> Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Disparities in Healthcare Quality Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: Selected Findings From the 2010 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports
> Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience: Asian Americans, Addiction, and Barriers to Treatment
> Introduction to Cultural Competency: Reducing Health Disparities in Asian American and Pacific Island Populations
> National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
> National Center for Biotechnology Information: Substance Use and Abuse by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Preliminary Results From Four National Epidemiologic Studies
> National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Substance abuse among Asian Adults
> Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence
> Office of Civil Rights
> Official and Spoken Languages of Countries in Asia and the Middle East
> The Common Wealth Fund
> The Office of Minority Health: Asian American/Pacific Islander Profile
> The Office of Minority Health: Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Profile
> University of Hawaii at Manoa: John A. Burns School of Medicine
> US Census Race Data
> We the People: Asians in the United States. Census 2000 Special Reports
> We the People: Pacific Islanders in the United States. Census 2000 Special Reports
> White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders
