Views and Experiences of Drug and Alcohol Services by Individuals From Migrant, Non-English-Speaking Backgrounds and of Their Service Providers in South Western Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

People from migrant, non-English-speaking backgrounds face a variety of challenges when settling in Australia. Although evidence suggests that alcohol and other drug (AOD) use among this group is lower than among the general population, individuals from these communities are at increased risk of mental health issues and racial discrimination, which are known risk factors for increased use of alcohol and other drugs. This study aimed to address current gaps in the literature by using a qualitative methodology to explore the lived experiences of AOD clients who are from migrant, non-English-speaking backgrounds in terms of access to and utilization of AOD services. Eighteen AOD service users and ten service providers (i.e., health clinicians) were interviewed for the study. In this article, we present stories that, collectively, represent the group of AOD service users and their experiences of AOD services as individuals from "culturally and linguistically diverse" backgrounds. We complement those stories with the views provided by health professionals who work providing AOD services. We present these stories organized into three main themes: intersectionality of vulnerabilities, risky environments, and institutional stigma. The stories are interweaved with our theoretical analysis of the material collected through the interviews using a structural vulnerability lens. We conclude that using "culture" as a marker to determine the quality and provision of services or to somehow specialize delivery can be problematic if there is little acknowledgement of the forces that are at play to homogenize health and healthcare provision.