QUOTES FROM INDIVIDUALS FROM THE
AFRICAN/CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITIES

”Talking to someone from your own culture gives you peace of mind, they understand, they know where you are coming from, can relate to them.”

Speaking of existing mainstream services, “They are not culturally empathic, there’s no fairness of treatment, a lot of distrust with them, cultural identification is important, and experience of empathy is too.”

‘”I felt isolated I felt lonely, seeing workers from similar backgrounds would have helped, to be culturally identified with would have been good.”

“Black and Asian don’t come forward for help, but if there was specific Black and Asian services there, maybe I would have got help a lot quicker.”

The finding of the 'REACH REPORT 2006' highlights a need for cultural identification; connection, understanding, cultural empathy and BME related services provision.

Underlying causes for drug and alcohol addiction.

The following are responses from the group members as to what they believed were the causes or contributors that lead them to misusing/abusing substances:

· Issue’s with loss and bereavement
· Lack of understanding of emotional experiencing (‘take drugs to numb the pain’)
· Inability to deal with failures in life
· Not meeting family expectations
· Depression
· Anxiety
· Abuse (mental, bullying, physical, sexual)
· Genetic predisposition
· Racial abuse
· Low self esteem
· Lack of self worth
· Poor upbringing (dysfunctional homes, uneducated and broken families)

Many of this group struggle to deal with painful feelings such as guilt, isolation, shame, despair and fear as well as dealing with mental health problems. Clearly these are difficult psychological and mental health issues underlying their drug addictions. (Reach report 2006)

Currently Bac-in is funded by The Nottinghamshire DAAT and Nottingham City CDP.