Barriers to Getting Help : A program to help Asian-Americans in drug trouble to reach out

The Promised Land of America’s suburbs turns to a street of broken dreams for some Asian immigrants. Although these newest Americans are as susceptible to drug abuse as others, their community holds particular obstacles to getting help. A new program sponsored by a non-profit group in Orange County is a pioneer in treating drugaddicted Asians living at a distance from more established resources in Los Angeles. It deserves recognition for helping break old taboos.

United Cambodian Community Inc., which has been conducting drug prevention programs, is now at work in Santa Ana counseling drugaddicted Asians, mostly from Vietnam and Cambodia, under a three-year federal grant.

The program tackles the cultural reluctance of many Asians to deal openly with drug problems. Until now, many were referred to the successful Asian American Drug Abuse Program, founded in Los Angeles in 1973.

The Santa Ana program provides counseling for about 26 drug-addicted clients and employs both traditional Western psychotherapy and some Asian traditions such as acupuncture.

While most Americans are accustomed to seeing others let it all hang out on TV talk shows, Asians are inclined to deal with their troubles only within the family. Indeed, the agency’s valuable prevention program at Fountain Valley High School is called an “honor club,” to avoid the stigma associated with even discussing drugs.

Overcoming cultural barriers is tough. It’s also tough to overcome the “model minority” Asian-American stereotype. Anyone with a drug problem needs help, and now a few more Asian immigrants are getting it.