Compared with white and other ethnic groups, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) often report lower rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD)use. In 1995, we administered the SWRL Drug and Alcohol Survey throughout California high schools to a sample of 13,374 students. Schools with a higher than expected representation of AAPI students were oversampled. While as a group AAPI students reported lower rates than did non-AAPIs, rates of AOD use varied considerably across the various Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups. Among three AAPI groups, Filipinos consistently had the highest rates of use in the last year for alcohol (63.5%), marijuana (29.2%), and LSD (8.4%). These rates compared with 56.3%, 13.5%, and 4.1%, respectively, for Koreans and 42.4%, 6.9%, and 2.9% for Chinese respondents. Our findings suggest that to reasonably assess the needs for prevention and ancillary services for AAPIs, subgroup differences must be taken into account. Indeed, generalizations about AOD use in the AAPI are likely to obscure the true needs of this diverse community.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the study design and sample characteristics of the California SWRL Drug and Alcohol Survey. 2. List differences in reported alcohol and drug use rates among various AAPI subgroups and non-Asians. 3. Identify likely effects of exclusion of AAPI subgroup-level data in assessing prevention and service needs
Keywords: Adolescents, Asian and Pacific Islander
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.