High Rates of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in Minorities
Across the United States, the rate of individuals that are living with a mental health disorder and substance use disorder has become a growing concern. While mental illness and substance abuse do not discriminate and will impact the lives of any ethnic, socioeconomic backgrounds, age, and gender, there are certain demographics and minorities that are substantially impacted more than others. Minorities within the United States will face a significantly higher rate of discrimination and prejudice compared to others. Within the last years, the media has covered the unfair and unjust treatment of other races and minorities including the LGBTQ community. The social isolation and unjust treatment of minorities will impact a person’s mental health by increasing the severity of symptoms felt especially within mood disorders and many will turn to drugs and alcohol as a means to self-medicate and cope with the stress and emotional pain that many will feel as a result of the disparity of treatment from others.
Minorities and Mental Health
Minority populations have an increased risk of developing or experiencing worsening symptoms of mental illness. In minority populations such as LGBTQ, there has been significant research that has demonstrated the effects of social stigma and isolation can have on an individual’s mental health disorders including depression and anxiety. For other minorities including African Americans, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian cultures, there is a discrepancy in how individuals are provided with appropriate medical treatment to assist in alleviating the severity of symptoms felt from mental health disorders along with receiving levels of care that will support you in managing the symptoms of your mental health disorder. Minorities have experienced:
- An increase psychiatric emergency services rather than being offered community support services
- Emergency treatment methods as a result of poor interactions with local law enforcement that are often centered around discrimination
- Involuntary hospitalizations after attempting to seek care and not being provided with community supports
- Less likely to receive interventions to treating cooccurring disorders
- Provided with higher doses of antipsychotic medications rather than traditional dual diagnosis treatment or behavioral therapy methods
Risk of Substance Abuse
Minorities experience increased substance abuse for a number of compounding factors and risk factors including:
- Discrimination based on racial and ethnic backgrounds
- Limited access to care for managing mental illness or counseling supports
- Social isolation due to prejudice and unjust treatment for society due to your ethnic minority status
- Lack of substance abuse addiction treatment programs that are designed to meet the needs of a diverse ethnic minority background
- Limited treatment access within local areas for ethnic minority populations
Disparities in Addiction Treatment for Minorities
An alcohol or drug addiction is a disease that is unique to each person that is living with a substance abuse disorder. Often stemming from your own emotional turmoil or traumas, it is important that your addiction treatment program is centered around healing from your unique circumstances and underlying causes of drug and alcohol addiction. However, for many ethnic minority groups and other minority populations, finding a treatment center that is inclusive and understands your specific history with discrimination, social isolation, and other compounding factors can be difficult. There is often a lack of access to treatment that meets the geographical and financial means for minority populations leaving many to feel as though there are few options for receiving the support needed to overcome your alcohol and drug addiction.
Inclusive Substance Abuse Treatment at Serenity Oaks
At Serenity Oaks, we provide an inclusive, safe environment for individuals that identify with a racial or ethnic minority or a minority population and understand the need for providing each patient with an addiction treatment program that is personalized to meet your own unique needs for healing for mental health care and alcohol and drug addiction recovery. Our diverse team will get to know you and your own unique story with mental wellbeing and illness and substance abuse in order to create an addiction treatment program that will foster personal growth, emotional and trauma healing, and set you on the path for a new lifestyle of health, balance, and recovery. Your story matters and our team at Serenity Oaks is waiting to hear from you to help you get on the road to recovery through our alcohol and drug treatment programs and mental health treatment Whether you choose our residential treatment program or intensive outpatient rehab programs, you will be provided with an opportunity to heal within our safe, inclusive recovery center today to overcome our alcohol or drug abuse and manage your mental disorder without having to turn to substance abuse to self-medicate. Your healing journey can begin today, you are a phone call away at (833) 720-0708 from getting started today.
