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

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.

Mortality Rates Among Substance Use Disorder Participants in Clinical Trials: Pooled Analysis of Twenty-Two Clinical Trials Within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network

“…As individual SUD clinical trials are too short and small to yield stable estimates, pooling participants across trials creates more stable estimates. Similarities in the CTN participant characteristics population provide a rationale for pooling across trial, such as socioeconomic status, racial and ethnic groups, employment status, and educational level (Calsyn et al, 2009; Campbell et al, 2010; Carroll et al, 2006; Donovan et al, 2013; Hien et al, 2010; Hien et al, 2009; Horigian, Robbins, Dominguez, Ucha, & Rosa, 2010; Korthuis et al, 2012; Kropp et al, 2013; Masson et al, 2013; Meade et al, 2010; Svikis et al, 2012; Weiss et al, 2011; Winhusen, Winstanley, Somoza, & Brigham, 2012; Woody et al, 2008). Participants were typically recruited from community-based substance abuse treatment programs (CTPs) within the CTN network (McCarty et al, 2008) and trials were designed by NIDA CTN investigators with common goals of bridging practice with substance abuse treatment research results (Tai et al, 2010; Wells, Saxon, Calsyn, Jackson, & Donovan, 2010b).…”

Adapting Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Alcohol and Drugs to Culturally Diverse Clinical Populations

“…It was noted that there is variability in the way heavy alcohol use is sanctioned (it may be considered acceptable unless overt family problems result), and that alcohol use in some cultures is a normative way of managing stress. Similarly, qualitative interviews with a diverse sample of Asian American clients in treatment for substance use disorders revealed that many respondents recognized the need to address their substance use only when they had experienced significant familial consequences or when they were mandated by the criminal justice system (Masson et al, 2013). Thus, incorporating patients’ cultural and familial contexts in screening and motivating them to reduce substance use is an important adaptation.…”

Looking Out from the Inside: Incarcerated Women's Perceived Barriers to Treatment of Substance Use

“…A majority of studies that have attempted to identify barriers to treatment entry and retention have primarily used qualitative methods and life history interviews to explore the nature of perceived barriers (Jessup et al, 2003;Kenny et al, 2011;Notley et al, 2012;van Olphen, Freudenberg, Fortin, & Galea, 2006;Redko, Rapp, & Carlson, 2006;Richie, 2001;Roberts & Nishimoto, 2006). Some have used interviewer administered surveys, or a self-administered questionnaire along with qualitative interviews (Masson et al, 2013;Venner et al, 2012). Studies which have used quantitative methods have generally involved persons seeking outpatient treatment Rinker et al, 2009;Xu et al, 2007) or those who are not help-seeking but have an identified disorder and would be appropriate for treatment, either because of their history (K. E. Green, 2011;Kenny et al, 2011) or a diagnosed substance use disorder (Mojtabi et al, 2011).…”