Substance Use Treatment & Relapse Prevention for Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Course overview

Despite steady improvements in the overall health of the U.S. population, racial and ethnic minorities experience higher rates of substance-related deaths than non-minorities. Black Americans, for example, experience the highest rate of opioid-overdose deaths. Individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups face many social injustices that result in health disparities and create barriers to treatment, including more severe legal consequences of drug-related crimes and increased rates of substance-related deaths compared to White Americans. Treatment strategies focused on cultural competencies can help substance use treatment become equitable and accessible for all clients. This course provides you with an overview of the disparities and barriers that impact substance use treatment. You will also learn about various strategies to help improve substance use treatment outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities.