This is a three-part public policy statement series on advancing racial justice in the context of addiction medicine in which ASAM analyzes systemic racism as a social determinant of health that disproportionately damages the health and lives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (“BIPOC”) who use substances or have substance use disorder (SUD). The first statement in this series sets forth ASAM’s recommendations for addiction medicine professionals to improve the quality of full-spectrum addiction care delivered to BIPOC who need SUD services. The second statement broadens the focus of the analysis to include actions that healthcare systems, institutions, organizations, professional medical entities, researchers, and health professional educators should take to reduce the detrimental impact of systemic racism on BIPOC who use substances or have SUD. The third statement addresses the role of structural conditions that create inequities for people who use substances or have SUD, with particularly acute consequences for BIPOC.

The comprehensive recommendations recognize that addiction medicine professionals must lead medical practices and treatment programs that acknowledge, respond to, trust, and respect people’s experiences of racism through trauma-informed care. Additionally, all healthcare settings should consider and address the social determinants of health – including housing, education, transportation, employment, and racism itself – as part of people’s comprehensive treatment and recovery. Later recommendations also provide that policymakers should eliminate criminal and onerous civil penalties for drug and drug paraphernalia possession for personal use as part of a larger set of related public health and legal reforms designed to improve carefully selected outcomes, while concurrently supporting robust policies and funding that facilitate equitable access to evidence-based prevention, early intervention, treatment, harm reduction, and other supportive services – with an emphasis on youth and racially and ethnically minoritized people.

ASAM supports the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act. This legislation would eliminate the federal crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity and apply it retroactively to those already convicted or sentenced.  Read more. 

H.R. 2837/S. 2667 - Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021  

ASAM supports the Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021. This important legislation would repeal the lifetime federal ban on individuals with felony drug convictions from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. In addition, it would allow individuals who are incarcerated to apply for SNAP benefits up to 30 days prior to release.  Read more. 

H.R. 909 - Moms Matter Act 

ASAM supports the Moms Matter Act, which is a bipartisan bill that would increase federal funding for culturally congruent, community-based mental and behavior health programs. Additionally, the Moms Matter Act would empower the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand and diversify the maternal mental health care workforce.  Read more.  

H.R. 2503 - Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 

ASAM supports the Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021, which would create an inter-agency technical advisory council on social determinants of health (SDOH) to help overcome barriers to coordinating services across sectors and a new federal grant program to assist state, local, and Tribal governments in tackling persistent economic and social conditions that impact the prevention and treatment of chronic medical conditions, including addiction.  Read more.