The results of this study suggest that problems with alcohol and other drugs, including tobacco, will become an increasingly important issue for the Indochinese refugee community. Although the problem is relatively small in comparison to the magnitude of the problem among other disadvantaged populations, the refugees still view this issue as troublesome for their community, especially for the younger generation. A significant number of refugees use alcohol and other drugs, including tobacco, as coping mechanisms to deal with their problems, and find their own behavior troublesome. This warrants further study in order to find the conditions under which substance abuse can be decreased and prevented. The present study suggests that adjustment and mental health problems, with the lack of social and institutional support, may be one of the major reasons refugees turn to psychoactive substances to alleviate their stresses and to forget their problems. Substance abuse among refugees creates enormous health risks for a population that is already at greater risk than the general American population. Preventive measures should be implemented at this critical moment in time so that this small problem will not grow into a larger one.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.