Alcohol abuse in Asian Americans - Epidemiological and treatment issues

Asian Americans are proportionately the fastest growing minority in the United States. Once considered a model minority, recent studies have suggested that Asians have a fairly high prevalence of alcoholism. The authors present epidemiological data from the few available surveys involving the Asian American community. An important consideration is that the term ''Asian American'' does not represent a homogenous group. It comprises people from many countries, several major religious groups, various socioeconomic levels, and different lengths of time and levels of acculturation in the United States. The presence of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) deficiency also represents a relevant biological difference in some subgroups. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to encompass all relevant parameters In any one study, but each of these factors clearly affects the rates and expressions of alcohol use and they all represent important considerations for treatment. Culturally sensitive and/or bicultural programs are indicated for the proper treatment of this population.