ABSTRACT
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are often viewed as a “model minority,” a conception that may lead to an underestimation of problems related to substance use. However, substance use problems have grown in recent years, leading to a need to examine factors such as cultural influences, which can be protective factors as well as barriers to help seeking. Faced with losses related to immigration, acculturation, and discrimination, substance use has been used as a method of coping in AAPI populations. This chapter examines the need to create culturally competent approaches that accommodate the values, beliefs, and practices of AAPI clients and their families.
