Addiction Treatment for Minorities

Finding addiction treatment can be a daunting task. Even more so when the individual looking for treatment is a member of a minority. Typically, minorities face many barriers to addiction treatment, or the completion of addiction treatment. While it is true that all demographics face some sort of barriers, there are specific barriers faced by minorities.

Minority Addiction Treatment Barriers

Some of the common treatment barriers faced by minorities are:

Career responsibilities

Difficulties in communication

Cultural attitudes about mental health problems or addiction

Discrimination or rejection during addiction treatment

Family responsibilities

Financial difficulties

Lack of insurance

Shame or stigma surrounding addiction or addiction treatment

Addiction Treatment for Minorities

Needless to say, that addiction treatment for minorities should focus specifically on their needs. Some of the treatment options for minorities are Residential Inpatient Treatment, Outpatient Treatment and Partial Inpatient Treatment. The basic steps of drug treatment are:

Evaluation

Individuals who want to enter treatment for addiction should first go through an evaluation and assessment with a medical professional, so that the severity of their addiction can be determined, and any underlying mental health issues can be diagnosed, and finally, an addiction care plan can be developed.

Detox

Going through a detox is usually recommended for individuals who are dependent on drug and alcohol, and this is no different for minorities. Detox is a medically supervised process that lets individuals with addiction to withdraw safely from the drug they are dependent on, and minimizes their risk of relapse.

Psychotherapy and Pharmacotherapy

There are a variety of methods that are used during addiction treatment, and this applies to minorities too. These methods include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy sessions and pharmacotherapy, where the individual is prescribed medication like antidepressants, anti anxiety medicine, or medications that address specific withdrawal symptoms.

Aftercare

Once treatment is completed, aftercare for minorities is a must, as it is for all other demographics. What does aftercare involve? It could involve outpatient therapy sessions, attending 12 Step Programs, going through vocational training and job placement.

Ultimately, individuals from minority backgrounds who are struggling with an addiction should not hesitate to ask for addiction treatment help. Approaching their primary care physician is a great place to start. If the individual doesn’t have a primary care physician, then they can seek guidance from medical or addiction professionals in community health centers or hospitals. If the individual is a young adult in college, they can approach campus clinics.

A good resource online is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The substance abuse treatment facility locator on the SAMHSA is extremely helpful, and can be used to find local treatment facilities.
Blueprints for Recovery understands the unique challenges that young adults face when approaching recovery. Call us if you need help for your loved one who is struggling to quit an addiction.