The Disease Process and Addressing Substance Use Disorders-CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Chief Justice Tina Nadeu discusses the importance of understanding addiction and addressing it in courtrooms. She emphasizes the need to recognize and address implicit biases, particularly in relation to the disproportionate arrest rates of black people for drug possession crimes compared to white people, despite similar rates of drug use. The video then transitions to Dr. Ayana Jordan, an addiction psychiatrist and professor at Yale University School of Medicine, who focuses on cultural considerations for court-involved individuals. She discusses the over-representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the court system and highlights the impact of social determinants of health, such as limited access to quality care and discriminatory practices. Dr. Jordan explains how these factors contribute to poorer health outcomes and a higher likelihood of involvement in the legal system for minority populations. She also addresses the barriers faced by these individuals, including cost of care, societal stigma, and a fragmented mental health system. The video concludes with a call for judges to consider cultural and structural factors when making decisions and to recognize the importance of addressing racism, discrimination, and stigma in order to support individuals in recovery. The video includes information on the racial and gender breakdown of state court judges compared to the general population, as well as statistics on the over-representation of black and Latinx individuals in the US imprisonment system. The video is part of the Opioid Response Network and encourages viewers to contact them for localized education and training.

Keywords

addiction

implicit biases

disproportionate arrest rates

cultural considerations

racial and ethnic minorities

societal stigma