More Alike than Different: Health Needs, Services Utilization, and Outcomes of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Populations Treated for Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are often portrayed as a healthy group with minor substance use problems. Using data from two studies of patients treated in 44 community-based substance use treatment sites located in three states, 298 AAPIs and a matched comparison group of 298 non-AAPI patients were compared on demographic characteristics, treatment experiences, and 1-year outcomes. At treatment entry, more AAPIs reported recent drug use and fewer injected drugs, AAPIs had less severe medical and alcohol problems, and AAPIs reported worse general health but less desire for medical and alcohol services. After controlling for baseline problem severity, there were no differences in treatment retention, completion, or outcomes. Contrary to the model minority stereotype, AAPIs have mostly similar treatment needs, experiences, and outcomes as other racial/ethnic groups in drug treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• health disparities
• health services utilization
• substance use disorders

Notes

AAPI = Asian American and Pacific Islander; ASI = Addiction Severity Index; SD = standard deviation.

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

^a Fisher's exact test was used.

AAPI = Asian American and Pacific Islander; SD = standard deviation.

^a Scale of 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely).

**p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

AAPI = Asian American and Pacific Islander; SD = standard deviation.

^a For all comparisons, there were no statistically significant differences.

^b Fisher's exact test was used.

AAPI = Asian American and Pacific Islander; ASI = Addiction Severity Index; SD = standard deviation.

*p < 0.05.

^a Differences were no longer statistically significant after controlling for ASI problem severity scores from initial assessment.

^b Fisher's exact test was used.

This study was supported in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (P30 DA016383 & K05DA017648) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT grant #s TI 11440-01, TI 11427-01, TI 11425-01, TI 11443-01, TI 11484-01, TI 11441-01, TI 11410-01 & TI 11411-01).

Preliminary results were presented at the 2009 College on Problems of Drug Dependence Annual Scientific Meeting. No previous publications have resulted from this work.