At the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Conference in Indianapolis, U.S. Surgeon General and former Indiana Health Commissioner Jerome Adam called for racial equity in addressing the opioid epidemic.At the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Conference in Indianapolis, U.S. Surgeon General and former Indiana Health Commissioner Jerome Adam called for racial equity in addressing the opioid epidemic.
Adams spoke Friday to an audience that included members of state legislatures across the country, an event that kicked off with a performance of elementary school children singing “Lift Every Voice” considered by many the Black national anthem.Adams said race and class play a role in how communities respond to the opioid epidemic.
“Here’s the challenge for all of you in this room. We need to make sure when policies are implemented to address the opioid epidemic, they’re implemented in an equitable way,” he said.
He gave the example of diversion programs, such as drug treatment courts, that give some defendants the choice of jail or treatment. He said too often, these programs make decisions about who gets in based on someone’s chance of succeeding at recovery.
Read more at article source below