People of color experience disproportionate harms related to unhealthy substance use, such as high overdose rates and physical dependence. Although discrimination and stigma are structural drivers of substance use among minority groups, they often go unrecognized in clinical care. To address these issues, BU School of Social Work Prof. Christina Lee gave a Grand Rounds talk to the Boston University Department of Psychiatry entitled, “The Impact of Discrimination and Stigma on Substance Use and Implications for Early Intervention.” The presentation focused on using a version of culturally adapted motivational interviewing, tested in a randomized controlled trial, that explicitly addressed stigma as part of the intervention for Latinxs with unhealthy alcohol use. The discussion highlighted the importance of racial trauma, acculturation, and discrimination in the context of mental health and concluded with specific recommendations for clinicians.
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