ABSTRACT
Culture affects the worldview of the individual in relation to health, illness, death and beliefs about causes of disease. Given the growing diversity of populations on a global level, health, social care and criminal justice agencies will need to evolve culturally competent systems if they are to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically different communities in integrated service provisions and delivery systems. Cultural competence is a process of change that is developed over time in order to increase understanding and knowledge of cultural differences that affect the healthcare experience. Cultural appropriateness provides the mechanism through which cultural competence is achieved; and cultural sensitivity and cultural specificity form the building blocks for culturally appropriate ways of working. There are major challenges facing health and social care providers in the provision and delivery of services for alcohol and drug users from culturally and linguistically different communities. These difficulties are accentuated in the recognition and assessment of substance misuse because of cultural variations in presentation of symptoms and a Eurocentric approach to interventions. A trans-cultural approach may be more appropriate as part of the therapeutic intervention strategies in the management of substance misuse in people who are culturally and linguistically different.
