There has been an increased number of immigrants arriving in Canada and a concurrent rise in the number of immigrant youth suffering from drug abuse. Immigrant youths’ drug abuse has become a significant social and public health concern for researchers. This paper explores the nature of immigrant youths’ drug abuse by examining the factors influencing the onset of substance misuse, the barriers that discourage youth to seek out treatment, and how to resolve addictions amidst immigrant youth. Findings demonstrate that diminished parental supervision, acculturation challenges, peer conformity, discrimination, and ethnic marginalization are all significant factors influencing youth to use drugs as an outlet for their pain, while culturally incompetent care and fear of family and culture-based addiction stigma act as barriers discouraging youth from seeking out addiction support. To resolve addiction challenges amidst immigrant youth, future research should focus on promoting and implementing culturally sensitive practices and psychoeducational initiatives into immigrant communities and within public health policies.
[1] HealthLinkBC. Alcohol and drug use in young people. 2021. Available: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/tp17749
[2] Government of Canada. The new Canadian drugs and substances strategy. 2016. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/transparency/corporate-management-reporting/evaluation/health-canada-statement-national-anti-drug-strategy.html
[3] N. Chadi and R. Belanger. “COVID, youth, and. substance use: critical messages for youth and families”. Canadian Paediatric Society. 2020. Available: https://www.cps.ca/en/blog-blogue/covid-youth-and-substance-use-critical-messages-for-youth-and-families
[4] Y. Y. Li, G. Maina, M. Pandey, J. Amoyaw, and Y. Fang. “Exploring family based immigrant youth substance use prevention programmes: a scoping review protocol”. BMJ Open. 2021. Available: https://www.doi.10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046766
[5] Department of Justice. “National anti-drug strategy. Evaluation”. Government of Canada. 2021.Avaialble: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cp-pm/eval/rep-rap/12/nas-sna/p0.html
[6] M. Herie and W. J. W. Skinner. (Eds.). Fundamentals. of addictions: A practical guide for counsellors. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and. Mental Health. 2014
[7] D. Korczak. (Ed.) “Substance use and immigrant youth”. Caring for Kids New to Canada. 2018. Available: https://www.kidsnewtocanada.ca/mental-health/substance-use
[8] A. J. Pumariega and E. Rothe. “Leaving no children or. families outside: The challenges of Immigration”. American Journal of Orthopsyachiatry. 2010, 80(4), pp. 505-515.
[9] Addiction Center. Addiction and Refugees and immigrants. 2021. Available: https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/refugees-immigrants/
[10] E. L. Yearwood, S. Crawford, M. Kell, and N. Moreno. “Immigrant youth at risk for disorders of mood: Recognizing complex dynamics”. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2007, 21(3), pp. 162-171.
[11] B. Christmas and B. Christmas. “What are we doing to. protect newcomer youth in Canada, and help them succeed?”. Journal of Community Safety & Well-being. 2017, 2(3). Available: https://journalcswb.ca/index.php/cswb/article/view/52/112
[12] H. A. Hamilton, R. E. Mann, and S. Noh. “Adolescent. immigrant generation and stigmatizing attitudes toward drug addiction”. Addiction Research & Theory. 2011, 19(4), pp. 344-351.
[13] D. Qamar. Helping immigrant youth say no. to drugs. Canadian Immigrant. Jan. 30, 2018. Available: https://canadianimmigrant.ca/living/family-and-relationships/helping-immigrant-youth-say-no-to-drugs
[14] Evidence Exchange Network for Mental Health and. Addictions. What do teen immigrants say about drug addiction?. 2013. Available: https://www.eenet.ca/resource/what-do-teen-immigrants-say-about-drug-addiction
[15] Caring for Kids New to Canada. Health promotion. 2020. Available: https://www.kidsnewtocanada.ca/health-promotion
[16] E. F. Wagner and H. B. Waldron. Innovations in. adolescent substance abuse interventions. Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd. 2001.
[17] K. McKenzie, B. Agic, A. Tuck and M. Antwi, The case for diversity. Mental Health Commission of Canada. 2016. Available: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/2016-10/case_for_diversity_oct_2016_eng.pdf
[18] B. Rush, B. Fogg, L. Nadeau, and A. Furlong. On the. integration of mental health and substance use services and systems: Main report. 2008. Available: https://ccsa.ca/ceca/pdf/Main-reportFINALa.pdf
[19] Canadian Mental Health Association. (2021). Understanding and finding help for substance use and addictions. https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/understanding-and-finding-help-for-substance-use-and-addictions/
[20] S. Beehler, D. Birman, and R. Campbell. The effectiveness of cultural adjustment and trauma services (CATS): Generating practice-based. evidence on a comprehensive, school-based mental health intervention for immigrant youth. American Journal of community psychology. 2012, 50, pp. 155-168.
[21] Government of Canada. School-based drug abuse. prevention: Promising and successful programs. 2018. Available: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/sclbsd-drgbs/index-en.aspx
[22] YMCA. Youth substance abuse program. 2020. Available: https://ymcagta.org/youth-programs/youth-substance-abuse-program
[23] Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. (2014). The Canadian standards for youth substance abuse prevention: An overview. Retrieved from https://www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2019-05/2014-CCSA-Canadian-Standards-Youth-Substance-Abuse-Prevention-Overview-en.pdf
[24] A. Khenti. The Canadian war on drugs: Structural violence and unequal treatment of black Canadians. International Journal of Drug Policy. 2014, 25, pp. 190-195.
[25] M. E. Turpel-Lafond. A review of youth substance use services in B.C. Apr. 2019. Available: https://rcybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rcy_reviewyouthsubstance-final.pdf
[1] HealthLinkBC. Alcohol and drug use in young people. 2021. Available: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/tp17749
[2] Government of Canada. The new Canadian drugs and substances strategy. 2016. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/transparency/corporate-management-reporting/evaluation/health-canada-statement-national-anti-drug-strategy.html
[3] N. Chadi and R. Belanger. “COVID, youth, and. substance use: critical messages for youth and families”. Canadian Paediatric Society. 2020. Available: https://www.cps.ca/en/blog-blogue/covid-youth-and-substance-use-critical-messages-for-youth-and-families
[4] Y. Y. Li, G. Maina, M. Pandey, J. Amoyaw, and Y. Fang. “Exploring family based immigrant youth substance use prevention programmes: a scoping review protocol”. BMJ Open. 2021. Available: https://www.doi.10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046766
[5] Department of Justice. “National anti-drug strategy. Evaluation”. Government of Canada. 2021.Avaialble: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cp-pm/eval/rep-rap/12/nas-sna/p0.html
[6] M. Herie and W. J. W. Skinner. (Eds.). Fundamentals. of addictions: A practical guide for counsellors. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and. Mental Health. 2014
[7] D. Korczak. (Ed.) “Substance use and immigrant youth”. Caring for Kids New to Canada. 2018. Available: https://www.kidsnewtocanada.ca/mental-health/substance-use
[8] A. J. Pumariega and E. Rothe. “Leaving no children or. families outside: The challenges of Immigration”. American Journal of Orthopsyachiatry. 2010, 80(4), pp. 505-515.
[9] Addiction Center. Addiction and Refugees and immigrants. 2021. Available: https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/refugees-immigrants/
[10] E. L. Yearwood, S. Crawford, M. Kell, and N. Moreno. “Immigrant youth at risk for disorders of mood: Recognizing complex dynamics”. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2007, 21(3), pp. 162-171.
[11] B. Christmas and B. Christmas. “What are we doing to. protect newcomer youth in Canada, and help them succeed?”. Journal of Community Safety & Well-being. 2017, 2(3). Available: https://journalcswb.ca/index.php/cswb/article/view/52/112
[12] H. A. Hamilton, R. E. Mann, and S. Noh. “Adolescent. immigrant generation and stigmatizing attitudes toward drug addiction”. Addiction Research & Theory. 2011, 19(4), pp. 344-351.
[13] D. Qamar. Helping immigrant youth say no. to drugs. Canadian Immigrant. Jan. 30, 2018. Available: https://canadianimmigrant.ca/living/family-and-relationships/helping-immigrant-youth-say-no-to-drugs
[14] Evidence Exchange Network for Mental Health and. Addictions. What do teen immigrants say about drug addiction?. 2013. Available: https://www.eenet.ca/resource/what-do-teen-immigrants-say-about-drug-addiction
[15] Caring for Kids New to Canada. Health promotion. 2020. Available: https://www.kidsnewtocanada.ca/health-promotion
[16] E. F. Wagner and H. B. Waldron. Innovations in. adolescent substance abuse interventions. Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd. 2001.
[17] K. McKenzie, B. Agic, A. Tuck and M. Antwi, The case for diversity. Mental Health Commission of Canada. 2016. Available: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/2016-10/case_for_diversity_oct_2016_eng.pdf
[18] B. Rush, B. Fogg, L. Nadeau, and A. Furlong. On the. integration of mental health and substance use services and systems: Main report. 2008. Available: https://ccsa.ca/ceca/pdf/Main-reportFINALa.pdf
[19] Canadian Mental Health Association. (2021). Understanding and finding help for substance use and addictions. https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/understanding-and-finding-help-for-substance-use-and-addictions/
[20] S. Beehler, D. Birman, and R. Campbell. The effectiveness of cultural adjustment and trauma services (CATS): Generating practice-based. evidence on a comprehensive, school-based mental health intervention for immigrant youth. American Journal of community psychology. 2012, 50, pp. 155-168.
[21] Government of Canada. School-based drug abuse. prevention: Promising and successful programs. 2018. Available: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/sclbsd-drgbs/index-en.aspx
[22] YMCA. Youth substance abuse program. 2020. Available: https://ymcagta.org/youth-programs/youth-substance-abuse-program
[23] Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. (2014). The Canadian standards for youth substance abuse prevention: An overview. Retrieved from https://www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2019-05/2014-CCSA-Canadian-Standards-Youth-Substance-Abuse-Prevention-Overview-en.pdf
[24] A. Khenti. The Canadian war on drugs: Structural violence and unequal treatment of black Canadians. International Journal of Drug Policy. 2014, 25, pp. 190-195.
[25] M. E. Turpel-Lafond. A review of youth substance use services in B.C. Apr. 2019. Available: https://rcybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rcy_reviewyouthsubstance-final.pdf
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:80482", author = "Qin Wei", title = "Drug Abuse among Immigrant Youth in Canada", abstract = "There has been an increased number of immigrants arriving in Canada and a concurrent rise in the number of immigrant youth suffering from drug abuse. Immigrant youths’ drug abuse has become a significant social and public health concern for researchers. This paper explores the nature of immigrant youths’ drug abuse by examining the factors influencing the onset of substance misuse, the barriers that discourage youth to seek out treatment, and how to resolve addictions amidst immigrant youth. Findings demonstrate that diminished parental supervision, acculturation challenges, peer conformity, discrimination, and ethnic marginalization are all significant factors influencing youth to use drugs as an outlet for their pain, while culturally incompetent care and fear of family and culture-based addiction stigma act as barriers discouraging youth from seeking out addiction support. To resolve addiction challenges amidst immigrant youth, future research should focus on promoting and implementing culturally sensitive practices and psychoeducational initiatives into immigrant communities and within public health policies.", keywords = "Approaches, barriers, drug abuse, Canada, immigrant youth.", volume = "15", number = "9", pages = "659-4", }
