Drug use among Asian New Zealanders is higher than thought, according to a report by Asian Family Services (AFS) and the New Zealand Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri.
Kelly Feng, Asian Family Services CEO, said when it comes to drug and alcohol use, we do not normally think of the Asian community.
"When we think about who is affected by harmful alcohol or drug use, we don't usually think of Asian New Zealanders," said Feng.
"There is a bias that Asians are the 'model minority' and do not use drugs or are affected by alcohol. This report shows this to be untrue."
Many respondents said that the barriers to getting help, accessing resources, support, and information were high. Examples included a loss of face, shame, and negative stigmas associated with drug and alcohol use.
Forty-six per cent of respondents cited shame, pride, or a loss of face as a barrier to getting help, while stigma was at 41 percent.
Seventy-three per cent of respondents said they had taken alcohol in the past 12 months and most harm came from their inability to remember what they had done the night before, injuries they suffered, and unwanted sexual activity. This was lower than the general population (79 per cent).
While drug use other than alcohol was low, one in five NZ Asians admitted to using them in the last 12 months. The highest were categorised as 'other Asians' at 30.1 per cent, followed by Filipinos at 26.7 per cent, Indian at 19.4 per cent, South Korean at 17.3 per cent and Chinese at the bottom at 12.1 per cent.
More than seven per cent of participants admitted to taking cannabis. The group classed as 'other Asian' had the highest use at 15.5 percent, followed by Filipino (14.9 per cent), Indian (8.9 per cent) and South Korean (6.1 percent).
Among NZ Asians, cannabis and antidepressants were the most used drugs, at 12.2 and 7.6 per cent and amphetamines were the lowest at 0.6.
Participants were surveyed across a wide range to establish a baseline that included perceptions and experiences of NZ Asians.
The report said NZ Asians continue to be excluded when it comes to health and social service designs, and this survey (the first of its kind) is to help monitor this demographic.
"We need services and resources that are targeted with these cultural factors embedded into its design. The current mainstream services do not and will not address poorer outcomes for our Asian communities as it currently stands," Feng said.
Sarah Helm, Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, said they now have a greater insight into the drug use of NZ Asians.
"We now understand where there may be higher levels of use, and where additional support may be needed. Asian New Zealanders who are younger or born in New Zealand are more likely to use drugs than other Asian New Zealanders."
