The Opioid Epidemic’s Impact on Communities of Color

Because drug addiction strikes all demographics regardless of race, gender, age, and socio-economic status, it is often said that the opioid epidemic “does not discriminate.”  Although addiction is indeed colorblind, people of color are dying from opioid overdoses at higher rates across the country compared to the white population. When we talk about combatting the opioid epidemic, we also need to talk about race and racial justice.

To raise public awareness about the opioid epidemic’s increasing toll on communities of color, NJ CARES regularly co-hosts statewide webinars that share ODMA data about the increasing number of drug-related deaths occurring among our Black and Hispanic neighbors, family members, friends, and co-workers, as well as some insight into societal causes for this disparate impact and recommendations for change. To view these webinars and learn more, please visit:  http://knockoutday.drugfreenj.org/webinars/