title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. ann.burlew@uc.edu
authors.forename: A Kathleen
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Burlew
authors.forename: Valire Carr
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: Chizara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahuama-Jonas
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Calsyn
mesh_terms: D054521:Cultural Competency; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*