Service utilization of Asians and other racial-ethnic groups: comparisons in a state substance abuse treatment system

Based on an administrative data base of 410,000 substance abuse treatment clients in New York State, Asians are a small minority who differ significantly from other racial-ethnic groups on income, primary language, treatment setting, substance of abuse, referral source, and discharge status. In particular, relative to other race-ethnicity groups such as whites, blacks, and Hispanics, significantly greater percentages of Asians are referred from drinking-driving programs and completed treatment. However, most of the significant differences between Asians and other groups are found among clients with a first admission, and tended to attenuate among clients with a second or third admission.