Resultant loss of respect and status in the Community is feared by many people who struggle with their chemical use. The confidentiality which is such an integral part of treatment is in conflict with the grapevine part of the culture. Lack of Resources Deaf and hard of hearing individuals have few resources for help with alcohol and other drug problems. Few treatment programs exist which offer deaf and hard of hearing people the kinds of services necessary for them to access and benefit fully from the program. Services such as counselors fluent in American Sign Language, assistive listening devices, TV decoders and TTY's are not commonly found in available programs.
Behaviors related to the person's use sometimes end up being attributed to the hearing loss.
Family and friends, in a sincere but misdirected effort to help, rescue these individuals from the consequences of their behavior, robbing them of the opportunity to see how their alcohol or other drug use negatively impacts their lives. Funding Concerns Programs that meet the communication and cultural needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals and which supply the missing educational pieces related to substance abuse are expensive. They require specially trained staff that are difficult to find. The funding issue is further complicated by a lack of understanding and the special needs on the part of funding sources, whether these are public or private funds. Frequently, the process for accessing funds presents another barrier by its complicated nature and the need for an interpreter.