Reluctant Help-Seeking Among Second Generation

Reluctant Help-Seeking Among Second Generation Black and Asian Heavy Alcoholic Drinkers in the English Midlands

Jim Orford et. al.'s (2004) study entitled "Drinking in second generation black and Asian communities in the English midlands" reports on a recently conducted survey on the level of alcohol drinking and extent of help seeking on alcoholic addiction among second-generation black and Asian community members in Britain.

The survey used a sample of 1,684 respondents through two methods, quota sampling and mainly, street surveys. The survey sought to identify three important variables that provide a comparative analysis of alcoholic drinking among ethnic minority groups in Britain: alcohol use, culture and ethnicity, and sources of help.

Survey findings show that the first variable, alcohol use, alcohol drinking is most prevalent among Indian Hindus (22.4%), followed by Indian Sikhs (22%). Pakistani, Bengali, and Black Caribbean respondents followed with 17%, 13.4%, and 11.9% alcohol use, respectively. Females predominate among respondents who drink alcohol with 52.6%, while alcohol drinking is prevalent among respondents who are in the age group of 20-24 years old (30.6%) (17).

Despite the large number of female respondents surveyed who drinks alcohol, most of the heavy drinkers are men, consuming more than 50 units of alcohol a week before the survey has been conducted. Among the ethnic minorities surveyed, Black Caribbean members drank most heavily (23%) followed by Indian Sikhs (10%). Indian Hindus, Pakistanis, and Bengalis rated lowly on this category (18).

44% of the respondents disclosed that their parents do not know about their alcohol drinking. Furthermore, non-disclosure of alcohol use to parents is more prevalent among women.

In terms of help seeking, 35% of the respondents said they would seek the help of a health center to seek advice about alcohol use. However, among those asked (N=639) to whom they will seek help about their alcohol use, 37% answered they will seek the help of their friends, followed by a doctor (28%), their family (27%), 15% answered they will seek help from "no one." Interestingly, none of the respondents chose to seek external help, such as those from the health center, community center, religious institutions, or advice centers (26).