title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, USA. laevans@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Libo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rawson
authors.forename: Yih-Ing
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Hser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult