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Filipino Americans are the third largest Asian ethnic group in the United States (US) and their substance use and behavioral health needs often go unmet due to low engagement in substance use services and supports. This study examines the perspectives of Filipino community members and behavioral health service providers in the US as related to social and cultural beliefs around addiction recovery, wellness, and healing and Filipino experiences accessing and engaging in addiction treatment and recovery support such as 12-step groups.
Methods
Qualitative semi-structured interviews integrating the Filipino indigenous method of pakikipagkuwentahan were conducted via Zoom with community members and/or behavioral health service providers self-identifying as Filipino and residing in the US (n=25) from October 2022 to April 2023. Interviews were transcribed and qualitatively coded through thematic analysis and axial coding methods to identify significant themes.
Results:
This study highlights: 1) Filipino community discourse around addiction recovery and healing from substance use problems and 2) the community’s ability to navigate 12-step spaces. First, participants depicted a range of addiction recovery conceptualizations, with dimensions pertaining to abstinence, harm reduction, purpose, and reintegration to family and social networks. Some participants also challenged the notion of addiction recovery as a Western construct misaligned with the Filipino community’s practices and beliefs. In particular, the lack of understanding about addiction recovery among Filipinos is attributed to the lack of acknowledgement of and conversation around substance use problems–due to cultural stigma and shame–in the community. Second, some participants discussed their involvement with 12-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Filipinos’ selection of and successful participation in 12-step groups was attributed to whether there were other Filipinos and like-minded individuals with similar cultural values in these spaces rather than the group’s substance focus (e.g., alcohol or narcotics) or a racial population target (e.g., Asian American).
Conclusions and Implications:
There has been emerging social attention and research focus on Filipino behavioral health in recent years. However, continued research and intervention development is needed to better support the community and to address its substance use and behavioral health needs. Further efforts are needed to develop culturally specific education and destigmatization interventions for Filipino communities in order to promote greater awareness and discussion around substance use and help-seeking. Additionally, recovery supports such as 12-step and mutual aid should be further tailored to meet the needs of the Filipino community. This knowledge has implications for making social work practice and behavioral health policies more culturally specific in order to improve access to and quality of care.