Subtle Asian Glow: A Digital Substance Use Prevention Platform for Asian Populations

Abstract

Background Despite the influx of digital mental health interventions addressing substance use among young people, there is a need for leveraging cultural sensitivity in the context of substance use within the Asian college student populations, particularly with MDMA, vaping, and alcohol use. While the stigma among Asian populations is increasingly high in regards to substance use, it makes it more challenging if the interventions are not appropriate in respect to the cultural and familial norms that Asian college students experience on a daily basis. Furthermore, public health research and interventions often dismisses the needs and substance use problems that exist among Asian populations. Purpose To propose a digitally based intervention for promoting safe substance use practices and incorporates social support, social media influence, accessibility, and de-stigmatization through a culturally sensitive lens for Asian college students. Methods We used the Theory of Planned Behavior to leverage the attitudes towards the behavior, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms for substance use behavior change, and this will be executed through a peer mentorship program, an online community discussion board, a social media campaign, and a curated list of resources. Discussion This proposed intervention hopes to encourage existing substance use interventions to integrate cultural sensitivity into their material and dismantle the xenophobic narratives of the model minority myth. It is critical for existing interventions to acknowledge how to become a more inclusive and accessible platform for Asian populations, and evaluate these intervention strategies through the common risk factors that are specific to this population.