The Role of Race in the Heroin Epidemic

Abstract

Opioid-related addiction has been propelled by opioid treatment within the healthcare system. The addictive nature of these drugs was underestimated, leading to opioid and heroin addiction in many patients who were treated for chronic pain. The public has addressed the current heroin epidemic sympathetically, acknowledging addiction as a disease and offering healthcare treatment as a remedy. This has been a positive shift from the “tough on crime” agenda perpetuated by the War on Drugs. It also coincides with another shift in drug abuse—racial demographics. White Americans have been more affected by heroin than any other illicit drug. African Americans use heroin and prescription opioids less often because they've been left unexposed. Because African Americans receive disparate levels of treatment within the healthcare system, especially regarding pain treatment, they have not received prescription opioids and have thus been insulated from the epidemic. This newfound sympathy for Caucasian victims was non-existent when minority populations were disproportionately plagued with addiction. This issue stems from two healthcare failures that require action: first for equitable health generally, as provided by the U.S. healthcare system, and second, for non-preferential addiction responses.