August 16, 2002 |
Asians and Pacific Islanders in Substance Abuse Treatment: 1999 |
In Brief |
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Although Asians and Pacific Islanders made up almost 4 percent of the
U.S. Primary Substance of Abuse Alcohol abuse accounted for 34 percent of all Asian and Pacific Islander admissions in 1999, followed by marijuana (19 percent), stimulants (primarily methamphetamine/amphetamine; 19 percent), opiates (15 percent), and cocaine (11 percent) (Table 1). The proportion of Asian and Pacific Islander admissions for stimulant abuse was nearly four times that of the total treatment population (19 vs. 5 percent) (Figure 1). The proportion of Asian and Pacific Islander admissions for marijuana abuse was also higher than in the total treatment population (19 vs. 14 percent), but the proportion for alcohol admissions was lower (34 vs. 46 percent). The proportion of Asian and Pacific Islander admissions for stimulant abuse increased from 11 percent in 1994 to 19 percent in 1999. Similarly, admissions for marijuana abuse increased from 13 percent to 19 percent over the same time period. |
Table 1. Asian and Pacific Islander Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment: 1994 and 1999 | Figure 1. Asian and Pacific Islander Admissions and Total Admissions, by Primary Substance of Abuse: 1999 |
Sex Differences
Alcohol was the leading primary substance of abuse for both male and female Asian and Pacific Islander admissions in 1999, although the percentage of male admissions for primary alcohol abuse was higher than the percentage for female admissions (37 vs. 27 percent) (Table 1). The percentage of admissions for primary marijuana abuse among Asians and Pacific Islanders was higher for males than females (20 vs. 17 percent), but the percentage of stimulant abuse admissions was higher for females than males (25 vs. 16 percent). The proportion of admissions involving female Asian and Pacific Islanders admitted for primary stimulant abuse increased from 16 percent in 1994 to 25 percent in 1999, while the proportion of male admissions increased from 8 to 16 percent. |
Age at Admissions In 1999, the average age at admission was younger among Asian and Pacific Islander admissions (30) than in the total treatment population (33) (data not shown). The largest numbers of admissions involving Asian and Pacific Islanders were aged 25 to 34, while in the total treatment population, the largest numbers were aged 35 to 44 (Figure 2). The proportion of Asian and Pacific Islander admissions younger than age 18 was more than twice the proportion of total treatment admissions in that age group (19 vs. 8 percent). |
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Source: 1999 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). |
In 1999, more than half of Asian and Pacific Islander admissions
were first treatment episodes (data not shown). The proportion of
admissions involving Asian and Pacific Islanders admitted for a first
treatment episode was higher than the proportion of first admissions
among the overall treatment population (51 vs. 36 percent). First treatment episodes are associated with younger age,1 and Asian and Pacific Islander admissions tended to be both young and to be entering treatment for the first time. A previous DASIS Report addresses the issue of adolescent Asian and Pacific Islander admissions to substance abuse treatment.2 |
The criminal justice system was the leading referral source for
admissions involving Asian and Pacific Islanders in 1999 (41 percent),
followed by self or individual referral (29 percent) (data not shown). The proportion of Asian and Pacific Islander admissions younger than age 18 referred for treatment through the criminal justice system was smaller than the comparable percentage of total treatment admissions (40 vs. 50 percent), while the proportion aged 18 or older referred through the criminal justice system was larger than among total admissions (43 vs. 36 percent) (Figure 3). |
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End Notes
1Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(2002, April 26).
The DASIS Report. New and Repeat Admissions to Substance Abuse
Treatment. Rockville, MD: Author.
2Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2002, July 5). The DASIS Report. Asian and Pacific Islander Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment: 1999. Rockville, MD: Author.
Figure Note
*The percentages of admissions aged 18 or older referred to treatment by school, school system, school employee, or any other educational agency in 1999 are not shown because they were very small: 0.4 percent of Asian and Pacific Islander admissions and 0.2 percent of total admissions. |
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This page was last updated on December 31, 2008. |
SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.
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