Public Policy Associates Research Associate Paige Haight discussed research on substance abuse among Arab and Chaldean Americans on September 18 at a national conference in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Haight and research colleagues spoke on “Understanding Substance Use among Arab Americans: A Community Assessment” at the ACCESS Arab Health Summit. ACCESS refers to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services.
The research, which is ongoing, is a partnership between ACCESS and the Advancing Community Empowerment & Social Justice (ACES) Laboratory at Michigan State University. Ms. Haight was involved in the research as an MSU graduate student and is continuing to work with the team to collect and analyze data.
The researchers are examining the perception of Arab and Chaldean Americans about the impact of opioid and heroin use in their community. They also are identifying barriers and assets to substance abuse treatment and prevention.
The research includes surveys, focus groups, town hall meetings, and interviews with representatives of multiple community sectors, including police, schools, and pharmacies.
For more information, contact Ms. Haight at phaight@publicpolicy.com or 517-485-4477.