Losing Face: Korean Community Confronts Drug Abuse

Koreans living in America have some of the highest rates of substance abuse among all Asian groups. Now a Los Angeles church is lifting the veil on addiction and running a rehab on the grounds.

University of California Los Angeles psychiatry professor Timothy Fong descibed the problem.

"What we've seen over the last 10, 15 years are predominantly alcohol use really within the Korean community," Fong revealed.

"We also see emerging new trends among the younger Koreans of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, a list of drug abuse that for prior generations of Korean Americans weren't there," he added.

In 1996, following a 20-year addiction to cocaine and prescription pills, Pastor Young Ho Han started Nanoom Christian Fellowship. He is now helping young Korean Americans break their addictions with a counseling program and free housing.

The church houses more than 50 addicts who are trying to beat their battle with drugs.

"My dad just completely … he just completely disowned me pretty much, and my mom, she had no idea what to do until she found this place," recovering addict Daniel Bak recalled.

One hurdle to seeking treatment is shame. The cultural stigma of "losing face" leads drug users and family members to hide their addictions and resist help.

"Korean family, they're only concerned about education," Pastor Han explained. "They're not really concerned about... personality, the character."

"I knew he had a problem, but I can't say it," Daniel's mom, Inhui Bak, said. "Cause all the Korean mommies or daddies, they don't want to say it. They knew but they can't."

This stigma often keeps families suffering in silence, but the church's programs are now a lifeline to the community.