Substance Abuse Prevention Involving Asian/Pacific Islander American Communities (From Drug Abuse Prevention With Multiethnic Youth, P 295-326, 1995, Gilbert J. Botvin et al, eds. - See NCJ 159983)

• NCJ Number: 159995
• Author(s): S Kim; S D Coletti; C Williams; N A Hepler
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 32 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Cultural issues that must be addressed when developing and implementing community-based drug prevention programs involving Asian American groups or communities.

Abstract

Asian Americans include more than 60 separate racial and ethnic groups and subgroups. These groups differ in their histories, languages, dialects, religions, cultures, immigration histories, socieoconomic status, places of birth, and nationalities. They also vary in their patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and in the characteristics that appear to predict drug use. Recent immigrants and refugees are more likely to handle problems within their own communities, whereas those who have become more acculturated or assimilated into mainstream society are probably more comfortable using available public services. Many specific Asian cultural differences may have implications for the outcome of intervention and evaluation processes. Assumptions about the impacts of alienation and acculturation have not been thoroughly researched. Motivating participation among youth and understanding how the family system represents both a protective factor and a source of stress are important issues in efforts to work with Asian youth and families. More research is needed on these and other issues. Tables, figure, and 69 references