NCJ Number
204465
Journal
Prevention with Impact Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: January 2004 Pages: 1,3,6
Editor(s)
Sally Mandler
Date Published
January 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In providing guidelines for people who work with members of diverse communities in addressing substance abuse, this report focuses on African-American communities, Cambodian communities, Hmong (Laotian) communities, Latino/Latina communities, and Native-American/American-Indian communities.
Abstract
Representatives from each of these communities were asked questions about substance use among members of their communities and ways that outsiders can best work with members of their communities in addressing substance use issues. African-American representatives noted that the most common mistakes of outsiders who work with them in dealing with drug issues are related to their failure to take into account the distinctive cultural and situational factors of most African-Americans involved with drugs. These distinctive factors pertain to the interactions of drugs, poverty, and crime in the African-American community. The top substance-use issues in the African-American community are alcohol abuse followed by the use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and crack/cocaine; access to culturally specific treatment is limited. The top substance use issue in Cambodian communities is tobacco, specifically, cigarette smoking. The most common misperception of outsiders is that all Asians are members of one group. To be effective, substance abuse programs for Cambodian communities must be channeled through the elders. For Hmong communities, opium addiction is a significant issue. The use of self-help groups in treatment as well as conversation therapy may conflict with Hmong traditions of privacy, pride, saving face, and self-sufficiency. Knowing the history of opium use among the Laotians is important, as is the tactic of working through community leaders and organizations. In the Latino/Latina community, the top substance-use issues are alcohol-related offenses, cocaine use, and juvenile use of marijuana and alcohol. Prevention service providers must know the language and understand family cultural values. Lack of education about drugs and their effects is a significant issue. Substance abuse in general is a major concern in the Native-American community, repeated from generation to generation as a means of coping with problems. Cultural values differ by tribe. Prevention workers must be aware of the socioeconomics, access to resources, and the history of the particular tribe being served.