Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Substance Use and Disparities: Review of Current Evidence and Recommendations for the Field

This study aimed to describe the current state of the science on Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NH/PI) substance use, covering extant research and treatment knowledge and gaps.

Despite literature gaps, epidemiological studies revealed sizable population-level differences between AAs, who have among the lowest rates of US substance use, and NH/PIs, who have among the highest. Targeted studies identified key challenges affecting NH/PI communities and some AA subgroups, particularly for alcohol, cigarette, and e-cigarette use. Of major concern, both AAs and NH/PIs demonstrate significant treatment disparities.

There is a scarcity of substance use research and interventions specifically targeted for AAs and NH/PIs. Promisingly, a growing body of research is focused on developing/testing culturally targeted interventions for these populations, but more is needed. Recommendations for improving substance use data and intervention research with AAs and NH/PIs—including disaggregating both racial groups and their subgroups—are discussed.