Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy are black Americans less affected by the opioid epidemic? Racism, probably.
Updated by German Lopez@germanrlopezgerman.lopez@vox.com Jan 25, 2016, 11:10am EST
Amid all the horrors of the opioid painkiller and heroin epidemic, one good bit of news is that it hasn't hit minority communities very hard. But there's never really been, in my view, a satisfactory explanation for this: Why are minority communities avoiding the worst of the epidemic?
Well, the New York Times has a possible explanation and it's disheartening. Gina Kolata and Sarah Cohen reported for the Times:
It's a troubling possibility: Basically, doctors didn't give black patients drugs that were thought to be needed for pain treatment due to racist stereotypes. Then white patients who got the drugs became addicted, and some, over time, shifted to another, cheaper, more potent opioid heroin to satiate their addiction.
To be clear, the doctors' stated fears that black patients are more likely to illegally sell and get addicted to drugs are based on false stereotypes: The research shows black people aren't more likely than their white counterparts to use or sell illicit drugs.
https://www.vox.com/2016/1/25/10826560/opioid-epidemic-race-black
Amid all the horrors of the opioid painkiller and heroin epidemic, one good bit of news is that it hasn't hit minority communities very hard. But there's never really been, in my view, a satisfactory explanation for this: Why are minority communities avoiding the worst of the epidemic?
Well, the New York Times has a possible explanation and it's disheartening. Gina Kolata and Sarah Cohen reported for the Times:
There is a reason that blacks appear to have been spared the worst of the narcotic epidemic, said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, a drug abuse expert. Studies have found that doctors are much more reluctant to prescribe painkillers to minority patients, worrying that they might sell them or become addicted.
"The answer is that racial stereotypes are protecting these patients from the addiction epidemic," said Dr. Kolodny, a senior scientist at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and chief medical officer for Phoenix House Foundation, a national drug and alcohol treatment company.
"The answer is that racial stereotypes are protecting these patients from the addiction epidemic," said Dr. Kolodny, a senior scientist at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and chief medical officer for Phoenix House Foundation, a national drug and alcohol treatment company.
It's a troubling possibility: Basically, doctors didn't give black patients drugs that were thought to be needed for pain treatment due to racist stereotypes. Then white patients who got the drugs became addicted, and some, over time, shifted to another, cheaper, more potent opioid heroin to satiate their addiction.
To be clear, the doctors' stated fears that black patients are more likely to illegally sell and get addicted to drugs are based on false stereotypes: The research shows black people aren't more likely than their white counterparts to use or sell illicit drugs.
https://www.vox.com/2016/1/25/10826560/opioid-epidemic-race-black
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
7 replies, 1531 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (7)
ReplyReply to this post
7 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why are black Americans less affected by the opioid epidemic? Racism, probably. (Original Post)
MrScorpio
Oct 2017
OP
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)1. Women and POC are left in pain more often because doctors trust them less.
MaryMagdaline
(6,859 posts)2. White privilege
dalton99a
(81,708 posts)3. Plus what the textbook says
cally
(21,601 posts)4. Also, due to lack of access to medical care
I've worked in prevention and read several studies and heard talks. Medical professionals are more likely to dismiss reports of pain in black patients and black patients have less access to medical care. Opioids are expensive long term.
Hornedfrog1985
(118 posts)5. Somewhat...
The thing is. Black people are a lot less likely to use cocaine, heroin, etc. Theyve seen what it does to their families and communities.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)6. Opiates are racist
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)7. "Predominantly, black men have found themselves behind bars ...."
https://intpolicydigest.org/2017/09/14/current-opioid-crisis-highlights-racial-double-standard/
.... Since the introduction of these tough on crime laws, prison populations have exploded. Predominantly, black men have found themselves behind bars for multiple, non-violent, drug-related offenses. Where was the concern for mental health treatment when drug addiction was plaguing their communities?
Luckily, sentencing reform (with a particular focus on drug-related laws) is beginning to get traction in the United States, but not quickly enough. Already, millions of black men have suffered from disenfranchisement after being released from prison, and most likely this demographic will continue to suffer under the Trump administrations crackdown. Especially if Trump and Sessions have their way, much of the progress that has been made in the past 8 years under Obama could be rolled back. It already seems like the entire purpose of Trumps presidency is to undo the last. ......
.... Since the introduction of these tough on crime laws, prison populations have exploded. Predominantly, black men have found themselves behind bars for multiple, non-violent, drug-related offenses. Where was the concern for mental health treatment when drug addiction was plaguing their communities?
Luckily, sentencing reform (with a particular focus on drug-related laws) is beginning to get traction in the United States, but not quickly enough. Already, millions of black men have suffered from disenfranchisement after being released from prison, and most likely this demographic will continue to suffer under the Trump administrations crackdown. Especially if Trump and Sessions have their way, much of the progress that has been made in the past 8 years under Obama could be rolled back. It already seems like the entire purpose of Trumps presidency is to undo the last. ......