Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Drug Concerns of Newly Arrived Women in Perth

Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Drug Concerns of Newly Drug Concerns of Newly Arrived Women in PerthArrived Women in Perth

by Susan Leeby Susan Lee

Curtin University of Curtin University of TechnologyTechnology

Womens Health ServicesWomens Health Services

Thank you!Thank you!

Thank you to all the women who Thank you to all the women who participated.participated.

Thank you to all the service providers Thank you to all the service providers who participated or referred women who participated or referred women to participate!to participate!

Thank you to the bilingual workers and Thank you to the bilingual workers and interpreters for the invaluable work!interpreters for the invaluable work!

Thank youThank you

Thank you also to Thank you also to Womens Health Services StaffWomens Health Services Staff Curtin University of TechnologyCurtin University of Technology West Australian Network of Alcohol West Australian Network of Alcohol

and Other Drug Agenciesand Other Drug Agencies Office of Multicultural InterestsOffice of Multicultural Interests

BackgroundBackground

Womens Health Services (WHS) in Womens Health Services (WHS) in Perth, Western Australia works with Perth, Western Australia works with women from over sixty different women from over sixty different nationalities, including many newly nationalities, including many newly arrived migrants and refugees. arrived migrants and refugees.

BackgroundsBackgrounds

Migrant and refugee women access Migrant and refugee women access many programs within WHSmany programs within WHS

However, there are very low However, there are very low numbers of women from ethnic numbers of women from ethnic backgrounds accessing the alcohol backgrounds accessing the alcohol and other drug (AOD) services for and other drug (AOD) services for women at WHSwomen at WHS

BackgroundBackground

WHS staff felt these low numbers WHS staff felt these low numbers reflected service delivery not reflected service delivery not matching women’s needs rather than matching women’s needs rather than to lack of need.to lack of need.

Difficult to obtain funding for specific Difficult to obtain funding for specific initiatives with ethnic women as had initiatives with ethnic women as had only anecdotal evidenceonly anecdotal evidence

Approach to the ProjectApproach to the Project

A community approach emphasizes A community approach emphasizes alcohol and other drug concerns alcohol and other drug concerns impact on the whole community not impact on the whole community not just the userjust the user

It is important for everyone in the It is important for everyone in the community to be informed not just community to be informed not just those who have a particular problem.those who have a particular problem.

Approach to the ProjectApproach to the Project

Suspected that there were common Suspected that there were common alcohol and other drug issues and alcohol and other drug issues and common barriers to women common barriers to women accessing services accessing services

Rather than each ethnic group Rather than each ethnic group having specific issues and barriers. having specific issues and barriers.

Focus Groups and Interviews Focus Groups and Interviews with Service Providerswith Service Providers

Service providers all worked with new Service providers all worked with new arrivals and were a mix of mental health arrivals and were a mix of mental health professionals, health professionals, and professionals, health professionals, and social service professionalssocial service professionals

22 service providers working with 22 service providers working with migrant and humanitarian entrant migrant and humanitarian entrant women. There were 4 interviews and 5 women. There were 4 interviews and 5 focus groups.focus groups.

Focus Groups and Interviews Focus Groups and Interviews with Newly Arrived Womenwith Newly Arrived Women

All women participating in the project were All women participating in the project were 18 years of age or more, Australian 18 years of age or more, Australian citizens, permanent Australian residents or citizens, permanent Australian residents or in the process of being granted permanent in the process of being granted permanent residency, and had been in Australia 5 residency, and had been in Australia 5 years or less years or less

There were 26 women participating in one There were 26 women participating in one of 6 Interviews or 5 Focus Groups. of 6 Interviews or 5 Focus Groups.

QuestionnaireQuestionnaire

Further explore issues raised in the focus Further explore issues raised in the focus groups and interviewsgroups and interviews

Developed a questionnaire using both new Developed a questionnaire using both new questions and questions from existing questions and questions from existing surveys for comparisonsurveys for comparison

National Drug Household Survey and the National Drug Household Survey and the WA Health SurveyWA Health Survey

The QuestionnaireThe Questionnaire

268 women complete the 268 women complete the questionnairequestionnaire

The questionnaire took between 20 The questionnaire took between 20 minutes to over one hour to minutes to over one hour to complete depending on the complete depending on the education levels and English education levels and English language ability of the woman. language ability of the woman.

Getting information to newly Getting information to newly arrived womenarrived women

Women were asked what was the best Women were asked what was the best way to get information out to newly way to get information out to newly arrived women like themselvesarrived women like themselves

Need a variety of methods to disseminate Need a variety of methods to disseminate information and information about information and information about servicesservices

Many service providers using only one or Many service providers using only one or two waystwo ways

“ “ It might be hard to get It might be hard to get them there…. It might be them there…. It might be

difficult… but generally you difficult… but generally you get the message across… if get the message across… if

you talk…” you talk…” Nigerian womanNigerian woman

How women would like How women would like informationinformation

Information Sessions or talks Information Sessions or talks Very useful 41%Very useful 41% Useful 41.8%Useful 41.8%

Best Times to MeetBest Times to Meet Saturday mornings (39.9%) Saturday mornings (39.9%) Saturday afternoon (23.5%)Saturday afternoon (23.5%) Sunday afternoons (20.5%)Sunday afternoons (20.5%)

Only 13.8% of women said weekday Only 13.8% of women said weekday mornings were a good time for them to mornings were a good time for them to meetmeet

Ways to get information to Ways to get information to women women

05

101520253035404550

web talks paper ethnicradio

not usefulusefulvery useful

“… “… such information some times such information some times they can find but it’s in English they can find but it’s in English

and that is a major problem. Is it and that is a major problem. Is it possible such information … possible such information … important information to be important information to be

translated into Arabic?”translated into Arabic?”

Iraqi woman through an Iraqi woman through an interpreterinterpreter

What information or activities What information or activities are important?are important?

77% 77% How to get work, How to get work, qualifications qualifications leading to workleading to work

73%73%Information on women’s healthInformation on women’s health 65%65%Exercise Classes for womenExercise Classes for women 59%59%Information on eating better on a Information on eating better on a

budgetbudget 52%52%Information on how to get a GP Information on how to get a GP

or or talk to a GPtalk to a GP

What information or activities What information or activities are important?are important?

44%44%Information on depressionInformation on depression 35%35%Information on family violenceInformation on family violence 26%26%Support for women with Support for women with

postnatal postnatal depressiondepression 17%17%Information on illegal drugsInformation on illegal drugs 13%13%Support for women whose Support for women whose

husbands or children are husbands or children are drinking drinking too much alcoholtoo much alcohol

SmokingSmoking

Most women surveyed did not smokeMost women surveyed did not smoke

3.1% (n=8) smoked daily3.1% (n=8) smoked daily

4.3% (n= 11) smoked occasionally4.3% (n= 11) smoked occasionally

“…“…smoking leads to loose smoking leads to loose character.”character.”

Asian womanAsian woman

““Sometimes when I’m stress and have too Sometimes when I’m stress and have too much problem I smoke outside. But after I much problem I smoke outside. But after I think okay I stop. When I’m really under think okay I stop. When I’m really under pressure then I start smoke because I pressure then I start smoke because I

don’t know what to do and nervous… but I don’t know what to do and nervous… but I know that it’s not good but stop. But know that it’s not good but stop. But

sometimes the smoke makes me little bit sometimes the smoke makes me little bit better. Will lighten up thing again. But I’m better. Will lighten up thing again. But I’m not like, you know, a heavy smoker and I not like, you know, a heavy smoker and I just need company when under pressure just need company when under pressure

smoking…”smoking…”Domestic Violence SurvivorDomestic Violence Survivor

““Many of them do Many of them do (smoke) but it’s not brought (smoke) but it’s not brought up as an issue. And I don’t up as an issue. And I don’t know if we’re so much know if we’re so much bringing it up as a question.”bringing it up as a question.”

Service provider working Service provider working with Humanitarian Entrantswith Humanitarian Entrants

AlcoholAlcohol

Most women surveyed did not drink Most women surveyed did not drink alcoholalcohol

23.5% had a standard drink in the 23.5% had a standard drink in the last 12 months with most of these last 12 months with most of these women only drinking occasionallywomen only drinking occasionally

““I don’t know about others I don’t know about others but myself I just wanted to but myself I just wanted to

try new things because in my try new things because in my own country we don’t and I own country we don’t and I

didn’t drink wine and I found didn’t drink wine and I found over here, oh wine’s good.”over here, oh wine’s good.”

Thai womanThai woman

Problems Associated with Problems Associated with alcoholalcohol

In focus groups with community women In focus groups with community women and service providers people reported very and service providers people reported very infrequent problems with women drinking infrequent problems with women drinking themselves. themselves.

The problems that were reported by both The problems that were reported by both service providers and community women service providers and community women were often to do with others people were often to do with others people drinking and their behaviour as a result. drinking and their behaviour as a result.

Other problems Assoc with Other problems Assoc with AlcoholAlcohol

……because one time on the bus I sat because one time on the bus I sat by one man who smoked and drink by one man who smoked and drink and he was very drunk and sat by and he was very drunk and sat by me and just talking to me.. talking to me and just talking to me.. talking to me and I was…when I get out of the me and I was…when I get out of the bus I was miserable…bus I was miserable…

African womanAfrican woman

Has some one who has been Has some one who has been drinking alcohol or taken drugs drinking alcohol or taken drugs

verbally abused you? verbally abused you?

16.9% said yes16.9% said yes

22.5% in National Drug Household 22.5% in National Drug Household SurveySurvey


physically abused you?physically abused you?




put you in fear?put you in fear?



Illicit DrugsIllicit Drugs

Most service providers working with Most service providers working with newly arrived women do not ask newly arrived women do not ask their clients about their alcohol or their clients about their alcohol or drug use drug use

“… “… or they filled in the little thing in or they filled in the little thing in the (health questionnaire) have you the (health questionnaire) have you used any recreational drugs. People used any recreational drugs. People

frequently put down or I used frequently put down or I used marijuana last week or ecstasy a marijuana last week or ecstasy a

month ago as though, you know, like month ago as though, you know, like well did I have a cup of tea, …”well did I have a cup of tea, …”

Doctor working at a Doctor working at a woman’s health servicewoman’s health service

Illicit DrugsIllicit Drugs

Of the 268 newly arrived women who Of the 268 newly arrived women who completed the questionnaire five completed the questionnaire five women reported using cannabis women reported using cannabis since coming to Australia. since coming to Australia.

One respondent reported using other One respondent reported using other drugs but refused to specify which drugs but refused to specify which drugs or usage. drugs or usage.

Illicit Drug UseIllicit Drug Use

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Anecdotal evidence suggests that

there is higher rate amongst young there is higher rate amongst young menmen

and in people who have been here and in people who have been here longer than 5 years. longer than 5 years.

Since coming to Australia have Since coming to Australia have you been worried about or had you been worried about or had any arguments with family or any arguments with family or

friends about their use of friends about their use of alcohol marijuana, khat or alcohol marijuana, khat or

other drugs?other drugs?

Concerned about Others AOD Concerned about Others AOD UseUse

8.8% (n = 23) of women said yes8.8% (n = 23) of women said yes Who is using?Who is using?

Husbands, sons, daughters, and friendsHusbands, sons, daughters, and friends What are they using: alcohol, What are they using: alcohol,

marijuana, heroin, ice and mixture of marijuana, heroin, ice and mixture of thesethese

Are you confident enough to Are you confident enough to talk about illegal drugs to your talk about illegal drugs to your

children?children? 41% Said No41% Said No

17% of the women interviewed said 17% of the women interviewed said information on illegal drugs was information on illegal drugs was among the top 5 of information among the top 5 of information topics and activities they wantedtopics and activities they wanted

Using AOD servicesUsing AOD services

Just over 71% of women said they Just over 71% of women said they would use such a service, if they would use such a service, if they needed one needed one

The majority of women would be The majority of women would be very comfortable or ok in using an very comfortable or ok in using an interpreter to discuss such issues interpreter to discuss such issues

Suggestions from service Suggestions from service providers and women providers and women

Have AOD information available in Have AOD information available in multicultural settingsmulticultural settings

Incorporate AOD information into Incorporate AOD information into other types of health and social other types of health and social service information e.g. parenting, service information e.g. parenting, driving, employmentdriving, employment

Areas for Further Research and Areas for Further Research and ExplorationExploration

Overseas Students:Overseas Students: Women’s health information including Women’s health information including

alcohol and other drug informationalcohol and other drug information

Information on women’s safetyInformation on women’s safety

Areas for Further Research and Areas for Further Research and Exploration: Exploration:

There seems to be poor understanding by There seems to be poor understanding by older women of the health risks of heavy older women of the health risks of heavy drinking drinking

Current information and prevention Current information and prevention activities are geared towards young activities are geared towards young people with little appropriate information people with little appropriate information for older womenfor older women

Take Home MessagesTake Home Messages

Alcohol and other drug use by newly Alcohol and other drug use by newly arrived women is low compared to other arrived women is low compared to other community groups. community groups.

However, some women are using and However, some women are using and newly arrived women are impacted by newly arrived women are impacted by other people’s AOD use. other people’s AOD use.

Service Providers need to ask women Service Providers need to ask women about their use and the impact of others about their use and the impact of others use on themuse on them


There are common alcohol and other There are common alcohol and other drug issues and common barriers to drug issues and common barriers to women accessing services women accessing services

Poor understanding by women Poor understanding by women involved with the project of what involved with the project of what AOD agencies do and that you can AOD agencies do and that you can seek support as a significant other.seek support as a significant other.


Women had concerns about the cost, Women had concerns about the cost, confidentiality and the police confidentiality and the police becoming involvedbecoming involved

Service Providers need to change Service Providers need to change how they deliver services (especially how they deliver services (especially around prevention) in order to be around prevention) in order to be more accessible to women from more accessible to women from ethnic communitiesethnic communities


It’s easy to focus on newly arrived It’s easy to focus on newly arrived humanitarian entrants and forget the humanitarian entrants and forget the majority of people do not arrive in majority of people do not arrive in this category. this category.

Newly arrived women (0 to 5 years) Newly arrived women (0 to 5 years) are only a small portion of all are only a small portion of all overseas born people in WA. overseas born people in WA.

Thank you for listening!Thank you for listening!

My contact details are:My contact details are:

Susan LeeSusan Lee

Womens Health ServicesWomens Health Services

[email protected]@whs.org.au

or 9227-9032or 9227-9032

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Drug Concerns of Newly Arrived Women in Perth