The intersection of structurally traumatized communities and substance use treatment: Dominant discourses and hidden themes

ABSTRACT

This article reviews multidisciplinary literature to propose a structurally traumatized communities theoretical framework relating to three major topics: (a) addiction as an equal opportunity disease, (b) the psychology of marijuana use, and (c) anger and rage. From an ecological and structural perspective, the socially defined themes of stigma and stereotypes interplay with sociopolitical, historical, and cultural forces that contribute to substance use and addiction among African Americans and the treatment success gap that they experience in drug treatment. Empathy serves as an underlying mediating construct in clinical training and accreditation standards, inducing a systematic improvement in programmatic service delivery.

KEYWORDS:

• African Americans
• empathy
• marijuana
• racial disparities
• socioeconomic status
• substance use disorders
• trauma

Notes

¹The terms African American and Black are used interchangeably.

²Client and patient are used interchangeably.