All Asian-Americans Not Equal When it Comes to Alcohol and Other Drug Use

In general, alcohol and other drug use is lower among Asians than most other ethnic groups in the U.S. But there are some strong differences in drinking and drug use among various Asian-American communities, a new report finds.

Binge drinking is far more common among Korean-Americans than Chinese-Americans, while Americans of Japanese origin are three times more likely to use illicit drugs than those whose families came from India, according to the report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Asians born in the U.S. also are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs than those born outside the country, regardless of their age.

Overall, however, the rates of past-month alcohol use, binge drinking, illicit drug use, and need for addiction treatment is far lower for Asians than the national average. The Substance Use Among Asian Adults report is available on the SAMHSA website.