Earlier this month, SAMHSA released a press announcement revealing that based on a study published by JAMA Psychiatry, from 2011 to 2021, an estimated 321,566 children in the United States lost a parent to drug overdose, with rates more than doubling during this period. The study, led by researchers at NIH, SAMHSA, and CDC, highlights the disproportionate impact on communities of color and tribal communities. It underscores the urgent need to dismantle racial and ethnic inequities by incorporating culturally informed approaches in prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The researchers also stress the importance of whole-person health care that prioritizes individuals with substance use disorder as family members first while providing resources to support families and break generational cycles of substance use.
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