Part 1: How Past is our Past? Why Should We Care About the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use

Understanding the role structural racism plays in society and its relationship to substance use disorders is critical to prevention and promoting healthy behaviors. Part 1 of the two-part webinar series, How Past is our Past? Unpacking and Mitigating the Impact of Structural Racism on Substance Use, introduces a conceptual framework to link structural racism to substance use by identifying common systems, policies, and programs that negatively impact people of color and examining how stress from racism can lead to poor physical and mental health, which can in turn increase the risk for substance use.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Define structural racism, recognize its historic roots, and understand how it impacts the present day.
2. Explain the connection between racism, stress, and substance use.
3. Justify why racism should be considered another component of the social determinants of health model.
4. Recognize and mitigate their individual and organizational roles in upholding racist systems, policies, and institutions.
5. Explain why public health officials, clinicians, behavioral health specialists, and other healthcare providers should care about the impact of structural racism on substance use.