Does Cultural Adaptation Have a Role in Substance Abuse Treatment?

Abstract

The changing ethnic composition of the nation and increasing requirements to use evidence-based treatments (EBTs) challenge mental health professionals to adapt treatments and interventions to be appropriate for their clients. This article applies the available information on cultural adaptation to substance abuse. The authors' review suggests that the most common approaches for adapting substance use interventions include some combination of either community involvement in the adaptation, existing research and literature, and/or consultation from experts to adapt EBTs. The challenges facing the development of culturally adapted interventions include the need for additional research to determine which specific EBTs warrant adaptation, the responsibility of maintaining the balance between fidelity and adaptation, and the challenge of intragroup diversity.

Keywords:

• Evidence-based treatments
• substance use
• ethnic minorities
• health disparities
• cultural adaptation
• behavioral interventions

Notes

Authors Burlew, Copeland, and Ahuama-Jonas would like to acknowledge the contributions of Donald A. Calsyn, PhD, to this article and to the study of HIV risk among substance users. His sudden and unexpected death is a great loss to the field.