Migrants from former Soviet Union countries (FSU) with alcohol and drug problems are a target group that, despite strong needs, is "hard to reach" for the health care system. Why do migrants refrain from accepting long-term addiction-specific help? Which are their experiences, when they turn to the help system? In an ongoing study funded by the German Ministry of Research and Education, N=46 FSU migrants with intensive substance use have been interviewed about their utilization behavior. Results show that the barriers preventing them from seeking addiction related help are located on socio-economic and institutional levels on the one hand. On the other hand, they result from socialization specific expectations concerning treatments: Our interviewees express strong objections against talk-intensive therapy methods that are common in Germany, which they see in contradiction to therapy practices in their countries of origin. Our results show that it is necessary to elaborate information about addiction specific services in a way that is more adequate to this specific target group. Professionals in the care system should be sensitized for how to integrate treatments in migrants' life worlds.

Fsu-migrants Alcohol and drug consumption Barriers of access Utilization behavior Qualitative study

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