Chinese experiences in drug treatment

In a city with the most visible East Asian population in Canada, there is one type of Asian who remains almost invisible in Vancouver: the drug addicts.

Health workers and drug counselors say there is a hidden group of mostly Chinese and Vietnamese drug users who receive no treatment because they are flying under every official radar.

In 2000, Dr. Siu-Ming Kwok published a study called “Exploring the experiences of Chinese in drugs treatment programs in Vancouver.”

All five respondents* were male, between ages 20 and 24, and from Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Vietnam. Here is some of what they said about their experiences:

“We [Chinese] believe that we do not bring shame to the doorstep of our families…I will keep this [drug use] as a secret away from my parents for the rest of my life.” – Mati

“I am now a burden for my parents, I am an insult to all Chinese…loss of face by Chinese to the White people” – Ah Wai

“At that time I only know there are detoxes. I have no idea of other programs like out-patient centre…they are not publicized on TV nor does anyone reach out to us to explain.” – Peter

“I can only said sick, sick, and sick to medical doctor…I cannot express myself other than that” – Ah Wai

“You cannot express some very delicate feeling in your second language…when I can communicate with my mother tongue, I feel more safe and understood.” – Peter

“Each time I leave a [detoxification centre], I feel I am useless. I am nothing. I was rejected by my (Chinese) community…let alone by the mainstream society…I am a liar to my parents. I cannot keep my promise and I bring further shame to the family” – Ah Wai

“I would stay longer in such a caring atmosphere even though I might be the only Chinese in that agency. However, I would definitely leave without a second thought If a Chinese drug treatment program treats me like garbage.” – Ah Leung

“When I stay clean, I contact again my parents…they decide to support if I keep on staying clean….it’s good that you are forgiven by the people to whom you owe so much” – Peter

* All the respondents used pseudonyms

Posted by Kate Allen on Nov 18 2008. Filed under City. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry