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Substance use disorders and co-morbidities among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wu, LT; Blazer, DG
Published in: Psychological Medicine
February 12, 2015

Background Asian Americans (AAs) and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NHs/PIs) are the fastest growing segments of the US population. However, their population sizes are small, and thus AAs and NHs/PIs are often aggregated into a single racial/ethnic group or omitted from research and health statistics. The groups' substance use disorders (SUDs) and treatment needs have been under-recognized. Method We examined recent epidemiological data on the extent of alcohol and drug use disorders and the use of treatment services by AAs and NHs/PIs. Results NHs/PIs on average were less educated and had lower levels of household income than AAs. Considered as a single group, AAs and NHs/PIs showed a low prevalence of substance use and disorders. Analyses of survey data that compared AAs and NHs/PIs revealed higher prevalences of substance use (alcohol, drugs), depression and delinquency among NHs than among AAs. Among treatment-seeking patients in mental healthcare settings, NHs/PIs had higher prevalences of DSM-IV diagnoses than AAs (alcohol/drug, mood, adjustment, childhood-onset disruptive or impulse-control disorders), although co-morbidity was common in both groups. AAs and NHs/PIs with an SUD were unlikely to use treatment, especially treatment for alcohol problems, and treatment use tended to be related to involvement with the criminal justice system. Conclusions Although available data are limited by small sample sizes of AAs and NHs/PIs, they demonstrate the need to separate AAs and NHs/PIs in health statistics and increase research into substance use and treatment needs for these fast-growing but understudied population groups.

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Published In

Psychological Medicine

DOI

EISSN

1469-8978

ISSN

0033-2917

Publication Date

February 12, 2015

Volume

45

Issue

3

Start / End Page

481 / 494

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1109 Neurosciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Wu, L. T., & Blazer, D. G. (2015). Substance use disorders and co-morbidities among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders. Psychological Medicine, 45(3), 481–494. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291714001330
Wu, L. T., and D. G. Blazer. “Substance use disorders and co-morbidities among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.” Psychological Medicine 45, no. 3 (February 12, 2015): 481–94. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291714001330.
Wu LT, Blazer DG. Substance use disorders and co-morbidities among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders. Psychological Medicine. 2015 Feb 12;45(3):481–94.
Wu, L. T., and D. G. Blazer. “Substance use disorders and co-morbidities among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.” Psychological Medicine, vol. 45, no. 3, Feb. 2015, pp. 481–94. Scopus, doi:10.1017/S0033291714001330.
Wu LT, Blazer DG. Substance use disorders and co-morbidities among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders. Psychological Medicine. 2015 Feb 12;45(3):481–494.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychological Medicine

DOI

EISSN

1469-8978

ISSN

0033-2917

Publication Date

February 12, 2015

Volume

45

Issue

3

Start / End Page

481 / 494

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1109 Neurosciences