Citation

Williams IL. J. Ethn. Subst. Abuse 2015; 15(2): 95-126.

Affiliation

University of Hawaii , Honolulu , Hawaii.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15332640.2014.1003671

PMID

26287976

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.

Language: en