Developing culturally appropriate prevention messages and materials for Asian and Pacific Islander audiences is challenging. It is important to recognize and respect their geographic, ethnic, racial, cultural, economic, social, and linguistic diversity. The health communication process enables planners to meet the challenge of developing programs for this target population. Asians and Pacific Islanders are often perceived as a model community with few, if any, problems related to substance abuse, but it is important to dispel their myth, generate more informed perspectives on user rates, and recognize differences in abuse rates among the various populations. To develop culturally appropriate and effective prevention strategies, planners should use the following health communication process: (1) planning and selecting a strategy; (2) selecting messages, materials, and channels; (3) developing materials and pretesting; (4) implementation; (5) assessment effectiveness; and (6) feedback to refine the program. Planning begins with research. Some selected research findings about various Asian American/Pacific Islanders populations are given. Key issues that may affect substance abuse problems are those of immigration, acculturation, and intergenerational conflict. (Contains 38 references.) (SLD)