5302.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 9:15 PM

Abstract #8116

Substance Abuse among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Research and Policy Recommendations by the NIDA Workgroup

Ford II Kuramoto, DSW, National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse, 340 East Second Street, Suite 409, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-625-5795, napafasa@apanet.org and NIDA Workgroup on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Drug Abuse, NIDA, Rockville, MD.

To accomplish the objectives of a White House Executive Order issued in June 1999 to improve health and reduce social disparity among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) appointed 14 members to the NIDA AAPI Workgroup. The Workgroup's first meeting in December 1999 and a subsequent position paper identified a severe lack of reliable data in almost all areas of relevant research and a weak research infrastructure. Workgroup recommendations encompass five goals: 1)increasing and improving data collection and analyses about the AAPI population and subpopulations both at the national and local community levels; 2) increasing outreach to and participation of AAPIs in federally-sponsored training and career development programs; 3) improving research infrastructure of the community-based organizations; 4) increasing dissemination of data about the AAPI population and subpopulations; and 5) increasing access to and utilization of substance abuse/mental health treatment and prevention programs and related services. The Workgroup presents over 15 specific recommendations to meet the five goals, including identification of research foci, training and career development strategies, and areas of shortage in service utilization information culturally specific to the AAPI. Several recommendations are also presented that call for federal government initiatives specifically addressed to the AAPI to facilitate meeting the five goals in a timely fashion.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the role of the NIDA AAPI Workgroup in meeting national objectives on improving health and reducing disparity for Asian American and Pacific Islander. 2. Assess the five goals of the NIDA AAPI Workgroup as they apply to the current state of AAPI research

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Research Agenda

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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA