A Pacific addictions perspective: a qualitative study exploring barriers and solutions for Pacific substance and behavioural addictions services in Aotearoa, New Zealand
Drugs, Habits and Social Policy
ISSN: 2752-6739
Article publication date: 20 June 2023
Issue publication date: 12 September 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the views from Pacific addiction service providers with the aim of exploring perceived barriers and solutions for Pacific substance and behavioural addiction services in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Design/methodology/approach
One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Pacific alcohol other drugs and gambling health professionals in New Zealand. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A general inductive thematic analysis was then used to identify themes.
Findings
Pacific alcohol other drugs (AOD) services have adapted well to the COVID climate; stigma and time remain persistent barriers to access for clients. Pacific AOD services expressed concerns regarding their disconnect with primary health care and the need for collaboration and partnership. Pacific AOD models of care and workforce development would be encouraged, supported and provisioned with increased and stable funding within the sector.
Research limitations/implications
The lack of prioritisation and adequate funding that Pacific AOD services continue to face needs to be addressed. This will ensure that the expansion of Pacific AOD services is not only sustainable in regards to growing the Pacific AOD workforce but can also safeguard the responsiveness of the Pacific AOD sector to the changing demographics and increasing AOD needs of future Pacific populations in New Zealand.
Practical implications
Stigma, timing of AOD services and the disconnect between primary and secondary Pacific addictions continue to hinder accessibility to AOD services for Pacific people. The findings highlight that Pacific AOD services require a health system embedded in equity, operating to protect, foster, enhance Pacific models of addiction care and service delivery.
Social implications
The lack of prioritisation and adequate funding that Pacific AOD services continue to face needs to be addressed. This will ensure that the expansion of Pacific AOD services is not only sustainable in regards to growing the Pacific AOD workforce but can also safeguard the responsiveness of the Pacific AOD sector to the changing demographics and increasing AOD needs of future Pacific populations in New Zealand.
Originality/value
It has been over a decade since the last study identifying the effectiveness of Pacific AOD services. The findings highlight that Pacific AOD services require a health system embedded in equity, operating to protect, foster, enhance Pacific models of addiction care and service delivery. The lack of prioritisation and adequate funding that Pacific AOD services continue to face needs to be addressed. This will ensure that the expansion of Pacific AOD services is not only sustainable in regards to growing the Pacific AOD workforce but can also safeguard the responsiveness of the Pacific AOD sector to the changing demographics and increasing AOD needs of future Pacific populations in New Zealand.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to all the substance and behavioural addiction practitioners that participated in the study.
Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical approval was granted from the University of Auckland Human Subjects Ethics Committee (UAHPEC) Reference AH21615. Written informed consent was provided by all study participants.
Availability of data and materials: The data sets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Funding: This work was supported by Health Research Council of New Zealand Health Delivery Research Activation Grant.
Citation
Nosa, V., Palavi, L. and Heather, M. (2023), "A Pacific addictions perspective: a qualitative study exploring barriers and solutions for Pacific substance and behavioural addictions services in Aotearoa, New Zealand", Drugs, Habits and Social Policy, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 191-204. https://doi.org/10.1108/DHS-02-2023-0005
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited