National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

21 June 2012  

 

CONTACT

 

Myron Dean Quon, Esq. | Executive Director  

 

(202) 670-4681 | [email protected]

 

 

 

NAPAFASA Disappointed in the Pew Research Center Report 

on Asian Americans

 

Los Angeles, CA -
NAPAFASA, the national nonprofit that addresses substance use disorder and other addictions within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, is concerned with the recent release of the Pew Research Center study, The Rise of Asian Americans.  This study surveyed data concerning the top six population Asian sub-groups in the United States to support its finding that Asian Americans have high levels of educational attainment, income, and adequate resources.  This broad characterization of the AANHPI communities not only perpetuates the "model minority myth," it has policy implications that may redirect funding for social services and healthcare programs critical to some members of the AANHPI communities that have been historically underserved and overlooked.

While conducive to a starting conversation, the Pew Research Center study is not inclusive of and ignores the diversity of the AANHPI communities, which is comprised of more than several hundred languages/dialects and cultures.  When data are disaggregated and compared between more than these six Asian sub-groups, it is clear that there are some communities that have notable issues with regard to access to healthcare and education, and income level.

The Pew Research Center report fails to explore data on other Asian sub-groups from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands such as the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, Samoan, and Tongan communities who demonstrably are more impacted by cultural and linguistic barriers including stigma and language ability.  In a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2007, it was found that the past month illicit drug use rate among persons ages 12 or older, among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders was 12%, higher than other ethnic/racial groups (8% for the general population and 3% for Asians). This federal survey conveys the importance of disaggregated and inclusive data and demonstrates that generalizing data can be disadvantageous to marginalized populations.

"Unlike other communities, there must be the collection of granular and localized data in order to ensure an accurate picture of the contrasting communities that make up Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in our nation" said Myron Dean Quon, NAPAFASA Executive Director.  "Some of the greatest challenges of accessing services involve emerging communities, such as the Pacific Islander communities of Salt Lake City, the Bhutanese refugees of Atlanta, and even the more established Hmong communities of Central California."

NAPAFASA will continue to advocate for the inclusion of all AANHPI communities in policy and research discussions at the national, state, and local levels.

About NAPAFASA

NAPAFASA prevents and reduces substance abuse in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander families and communities through research, advocacy, education, and capacity building.


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