Asian communities are among the fastest-growing populations in Aotearoa New Zealand, yet their experiences with alcohol and other drugs (AoD) remain underexplored and underrepresented in mainstream discourse. This qualitative study, conducted by Asian Family Services in 2025, draws on 24 in-depth interviews with Asian New Zealanders who have lived experience of AoD use and harm. The research sheds light on how migration, cultural expectations, and identity negotiation uniquely shape pathways of use, harm, and recovery, particularly for young migrants.

Findings highlight the bicultural tensions facing 1.5- and second-generation Asian New Zealanders. Young people described being “caught between worlds”: judged as boring by Kiwi peers if they abstained, but considered disrespectful by families if they engaged. For many, alcohol or drugs became tools of social belonging, rebellion, or self-discovery. However, this experimentation often carried heavy costs, including anxiety, damaged friendships, and academic disruption.

Coping emerged as a recurring theme. Young migrants often used substances to manage loneliness, social anxiety, or pressure to succeed, yet these same pressures magnified the shame attached to AoD use within cultural communities. Support was sought sparingly; mainstream services were seen as culturally irrelevant, while fears of exposure or judgement deterred engagement with ethnic-specific providers. Instead, young participants leaned on peers, online resources, or rare safe spaces where bicultural identities could be acknowledged without stigma.

By centring these voices, the study highlights urgent needs for youth-specific, culturally responsive services. Key priorities include bilingual counsellors, discreet entry points, peer-led and LGBTQ+ inclusive support, and prevention approaches that recognise bicultural identity stress. For the addiction workforce, these insights provide a roadmap to engage meaningfully with Asian youth, dismantle stigma, and co-design interventions that reflect the lived realities of migration, culture, and belonging.

Three Key Learnings:
1. Bicultural tension: Young migrants are “caught between worlds,” facing pressure to conform to Kiwi peer norms while fearing judgement from family and community.

2. Coping through AoD: Substances are often used to manage social anxiety, stress, or loneliness, but lead to social and psychological harms.

3. Barriers to help: Fear of stigma and lack of culturally safe services leave many relying on peers or online resources instead of formal support.