Rehab Centers for Asians

Across the healthcare sector as a whole, the need for culturally competent care is greater than ever. Addiction treatment, and healthcare services in general, is a very personal journey that requires the proper care, empathy, and understanding to help individuals get through such a tough process.

Scroll on to learn about culturally competent care for Asian Americans including the unique challenges they face, types of treatment offered, and how culturally sensitive care can be delivered.

Asian Americans may face discrimination, racism, and barriers every day. However, it is often overlooked that they also face unique challenges regarding substance abuse.

In 2022, 9% (1.5 million) of Asian Americans 12 years or older had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. While this is under the national rate of 17.3%, only 1.5% of the 1.5 million Asian Americans with SUDs received treatment. Those between the ages of 18 and 25 were the most likely to have an SUD.

Though some Asian people did receive treatment for their substance abuse problem, it’s important to note that not all treatment is created equal. Asian people are less likely to receive effective and satisfactory care compared to white people and often experience poorer health outcomes.

Many factors put Asian Americans at risk for developing an alcohol or drug abuse problem. Some of these include socioeconomic factors, the stress of immigration status, cultural and familial factors, and cultural adaptation.

Asian Americans are more likely to experience poverty than other groups, which is a risk factor for substance abuse. On top of that, many struggle with the impact of their immigration status and the fear of legal consequences. This stress can encourage people to reach for addictive substances or develop mental illnesses that increase the likelihood of addiction.

As for cultural and familial factors, mental health is a very taboo topic among the Asian-American community. As a result, some people may use alcohol or drugs to cope as they feel they have no outlet or cannot ask for help.

Finally, the stress of acculturation and adapting to U.S. culture can drive people to develop mental health conditions or substance abuse problems. Asian Americans face systemic racism and discrimination that force them to abandon their culture and try to adapt to American culture to fit in.

Let’s take a look at some specific barriers to addiction treatment next.

While the challenges Asian people face regarding substance abuse are problematic and damaging, they are only worsened by the barriers Asian Americans face when trying to access treatment.

One of the biggest barriers is the stigma and misconceptions surrounding addiction in the Asian-American community. In Asian cultures, collectivism is greatly valued. People are expected to help take care of their family and community. As a result, anything that can prevent their ability to do so, such as addiction is viewed as a weakness or shameful.

The fear of being viewed as weak, crazy, or being faced with shame from their community prevents many people from admitting they have a substance abuse problem and seeking professional help for it.

Another major barrier is the financial obstacles many Asian Americans encounter. Asian people in America experience the most income inequality among major racial and ethnic groups. That being said, about one in 10 Asian Americans live in poverty. This can make accessing treatment very difficult as it is often very costly.

On top of this, many Asian Americans are lacking health insurance. Data from 2019 found that 6.6% of Asian people are uninsured. This can compound financial barriers as lack of insurance coverage can lead to even higher treatment costs.

Language barriers are another barrier to care for this population. Without bilingual staff, interpreters, and bilingual materials, Asian Americans who do not speak English well enough to communicate their needs may be discouraged from seeking care. According to the Office of Minority Health, 30.9% of Asian Americans are not fluent in the English language.

Other barriers include transportation barriers and fear of legal repercussions. It can be difficult for many people to find transportation to treatment centers which can make accessing care harder. Additionally, many Asian Americans don’t seek out care due to a fear of legal repercussions such as being arrested, detained, or deported if they are not legal citizens. With 1.7 million Asian Americans undocumented, this barrier is especially pressing.

Understanding the importance of culturally competent care starts with understanding what it is and how it can be addressed.

Care that effectively meets the cultural, social, and linguistic needs of patients is considered culturally competent care. Because these needs vary so widely, cultural sensitivity must be addressed from a broad perspective.

Many interventions and strategies can be used to increase the availability of culturally competent care. For one, some treatment centers offer cultural sensitivity and awareness training or diversity, equity, and inclusion training to educate their staff.

Other approaches that can be taken to address these needs include expanding operating hours, hiring bilingual staff, offering bilingual materials, offering flexible payment plans, hiring a diverse staff, offering interpreters, and expanding treatment locations to less affluent areas.

Healthcare providers who are educated on cultural values, barriers, stigmas, and disparities can provide better care to people of underrepresented demographics which can result in a myriad of benefits.

Benefits of culturally competent care include:

• Improved communication
• Improved quality of care
• Improved treatment outcomes
• Improved trust in medical providers
• Improved sense of security and belonging
• Improved overall wellness of patients

Another way to provide culturally competent care is to engage with local communities. Larger groups are often able to be a stronger voice for minorities and help with advocacy. By working with communities, treatment facilities may be able to get a better idea of what their care is lacking.

Finding a proper treatment center can be challenging in and of itself, but when looking for culturally competent care, this task can be even more overwhelming. Thankfully, there are certain features you can look out for and steps you can take to narrow your search.

One great way to determine if a treatment center is right for you is by asking questions. Don’t be afraid to get curious.

Questions you might ask include:

• Is your staff bilingual?
• Do you provide cultural sensitivity/DEI training for staff?
• What is the cost of your treatment program?
• Do you offer payment plans/scholarships?
• Do you accept insurance?
• Do you allow pets?
• Do you provide culturally competent care?
• How long is your treatment program?
• How will my treatment plan be developed?
• What are your visitor restrictions?
• What do your housing arrangements look like? Will I be sharing a room?
• Is your program inpatient or outpatient?
• What certifications and licenses do your staff have?
• Do you offer bilingual materials?
• What aftercare support do you offer?

When researching potential treatment facilities, we also recommend looking for positive client reviews and testimonials. This can help you understand what the patient experience may be like.

Other things to look out for include accreditations and bilingual staff. Accreditations like the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation and the Joint Commission accreditation are two great ones to look out for.

As for the staff, look for treatment centers that make it clear that their staff is bilingual and diverse, has proper licenses and certifications, and has received cultural sensitivity training. These can indicate that a facility offers culturally competent care.

Finding the right treatment plan for you can be a bit of trial and error, but with help from your providers, you’ll be able to formulate a comprehensive plan that addresses your needs. There are many treatment services to choose from including inpatient and outpatient treatment, holistic and alternative therapies, and faith-based and spiritual support services.

One of the most common modalities of addiction treatment is rehab programs. Rehabilitation programs typically fit into either inpatient or outpatient care. Both are effective approaches but have differences that can address varying needs.

Sometimes called residential treatment, inpatient treatment requires participants to live in a rehab facility for the length of their treatment program. This allows for constant supervision and care. Inpatient care is considered to be the highest level of care in substance abuse treatment for this reason. Inpatient programs offer a wide array of services like therapy, counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and detox services.

On the other side of the token is outpatient treatment. Outpatient programs are different from inpatient programs because they don’t require participants to live outside of their home. Instead, individuals travel to a recovery center several days a week for treatment. This can be better for people with less severe addictions or obligations they cannot leave at home.

Sometimes, outpatient treatment is used as a step-down approach following inpatient rehab. There are also types of treatment like intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) that serve as an in-between step for inpatient and outpatient care.

Holistic and alternative therapies are other options for addiction recovery. Some people choose to pursue these methods on their own, while others choose to incorporate them into traditional treatment services like the ones listed above.

Focusing on addressing the mind, body, and spirit all at once, holistic treatment is designed to treat the person as a whole. Holistic treatments focus more on the root of addiction rather than the symptoms. Some examples of holistic care include breathwork, meditation, herbal supplements, and spiritual guidance.

Similarly, alternative therapies use non-traditional approaches to treat addiction and mental health conditions. Common alternative therapy options include music therapy, acupuncture, equine therapy, art therapy, and yoga.

Some holistic rehab centers solely use holistic approaches and alternative therapies for treatment for those who are interested in a non-traditional approach.

Another treatment option is faith-based or spiritual treatment programs. Those who are religious, or spiritual, or want to connect more with their faith may find these programs to be particularly beneficial.

There are many faith-based programs specifically designated for specific religions including Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, and more. However, some faith-based programs offer a more broad religious approach so that people of any faith can join.

Rehab facilities with faith-based and spiritual programs often offer religious approaches alongside traditional treatment methods, with adjustments as needed to abide by beliefs. Services may include access to a pastor or spiritual counselor, dedicated time for prayer and meditation, and more.

Many people find faith-based treatment to be beneficial as it allows them to get closer to their faith and provides a sense of familiarity throughout treatment. Religion can help people feel as though they aren’t alone during this hard time.

When it comes to underrepresented populations like Asian Americans, individuals must have familial and community support throughout their recovery journey.

Familial support can be immensely helpful during addiction recovery as it provides a sense of safety and security. Additionally, family involvement can help ensure that individuals receive effective, culturally competent care. If a patient is unable to express their needs, their family may be able to step in to advocate for proper care.

Community-based support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and other 12-step meeting groups can be a great way to provide support during recovery. Other resources like the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights may also be beneficial in supporting needs whilst dealing with barriers to care.

Family and community are also great for building a supportive network for recovery. The goal is to find people who will not only hold you accountable during your journey but uplift you when you need additional motivation and encouragement. Your support system doesn’t need to be friends and family, it can be anyone you feel supported by and know you can rely on. Some people find their support system among peers in support groups.

In addition to the physical health consequences of addiction, there is a strong link between mental health and substance abuse. It’s very common for people to have mental health conditions occur alongside their addiction, called co-occurring disorders.

Co-occurring disorders can sometimes be the cause of addiction, the result of addiction, or they can exacerbate each other. Some of the most common co-occurring disorders are depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder. In 2022, 3.8% (593,000) of Asian Americans age 18 or older had co-occurring conditions with SUDs.

That being said, many rehab centers offer dual diagnosis treatment which addresses addiction and mental illness simultaneously. Common treatment options in dual diagnosis programs include behavioral therapies and counseling.

Behavioral therapy is designed to reframe thought patterns and behaviors that exacerbate mental health disorders and, in turn, worsen addiction. Two common types of behavioral therapy are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Behavioral health services can help individuals develop new, healthy coping mechanisms, learn how to manage intense emotions and learn how to feel safe and accepted. These skills can help prevent the desire to abuse addictive substances to cope with the symptoms of mental health problems.

Addiction recovery is not a linear process, and as a result, the steps you take and the changes you make following your rehab program can be just as important as the treatment program itself.

First and foremost, it’s vital to be able to identify a relapse and practice relapse prevention strategies. Unfortunately, relapse is not uncommon, but there are ways to prevent relapse and treat it if it does occur.

Relapse prevention strategies are any technique that can help you deal with stresses and triggers in your day-to-day life that might tempt relapse. This will look different for everyone but can look like picking up a new hobby, building a good support system, or sticking to a healthy routine.

On a similar note, another important part of maintaining long-term recovery is engaging in aftercare or continuing care. Aftercare is essentially the services you continue after your treatment program to ease the transition out of rehab.

Again, continuing care is unique to the individual but some common approaches include regular therapy sessions, joining a support group or 12-step meeting group, moving into sober housing, or trying alternative therapies.

Asian Americans face many barriers to accessing addiction treatment and experience unique challenges when it comes to substance abuse. As a result, they must be able to receive culturally competent care that addresses their needs effectively.

In need of more guidance for yourself or a loved one? Give our helpline a call today.