Substance Use Among Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese Adult Men Living in San Jose, Daly City, and San Francisco, and Its Implications on ATOD Prevention Services

Abstract

This intervention study collected data on Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese high-risk adults to ascertain similarities and differences in drug use patterns. Study participants (N = 126) participated in a 5-week intervention study to mitigate substance abuse and the prevalence of hepatitis C and HIV among high-risk adults in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties of California. Data reported were collected at baseline. The National Outcome Measures questionnaire was used to document individual substance use in the past 30 days. Filipinos reported higher use rates for alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and crack cocaine in the past 30 days compared with their Chinese and Vietnamese counterparts; these differences proved to be statistically significant (p ≤ .03). Data analysis also showed that the alcohol use of Filipino and Vietnamese homosexual men was significantly greater than their Chinese counterparts (p = .04). A statistically significant inverse association was found for alcohol use for those in the criminal justice system during the past 30 days (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37, p = .03). In addition, a positive association for other tobacco use (OR = 11.98, p = .00) was reported for those in the criminal justice system. Age group analyses indicated a positive association for those between 18-25 years old for alcohol use (OR = 5.40, p = .00). These data confirm the importance of disaggregation of data. If collapsed into a general Asian or Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic group category, as is often the case, the unique behaviors of the individual groups would be lost.