Setting the Stage: Racism in the History of Substance Use and Addiction

Setting the Stage: Racism in the History of Substance Use and Addiction

Overview

This 1-hour, online module focuses on health disparities in substance use and the causes therein, with a special emphasis on racially oppressive values that are harmful to racial and ethnic minoritized populations. This module examines the ways in which race has shaped the history of substance use and addiction in the United States. It is designed for healthcare providers treating people with unhealthy substance use and substance use disorders. 

Setting the Stage: Racism in the History of Substance Use and Addiction is the first module in a series of four modules on diversity, equity, and inclusion in addiction medicine.

The target audience for this introductory-level activity includes: social workers, counselors, and other clinicians part of the care team.

This activity addresses the following ACGME Competencies: Patient Care, Medical Based Knowledge, and Practice-Based Learning.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion, learners will be able to:

1. Define racism, structural racism, and social determinants of health. 
2. Describe the ways in which substance use and addiction have been used to exploit and control racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. 
3. Explain how the War on Drugs has disproportionately targeted and criminalized people of color. 
4. Analyze the media's portrayal of racial and ethnic minorities struggling with substance use and addiction and impact of these representations on public perception and policy. 

Registration Rates

*Residents, Fellows-in-training, Interns, and Students must join ASAM to receive a discounted registration rate. Click here to become an ASAM member. National and Chapter membership dues apply. There is no charge for Students to become a Member, but verification of student status is required.

Membership Question?  Call ASAM at 1.301.656.3920, email us, or view the ASAM website for more information.

Refunds & Cancellations

All ASAM eLearning Center refund requests must be made in writing to Education@ASAM.org within 90 days of purchase. Those requesting refunds for courses that are in progress will receive partial refunds or eLearning Center credit. Automatic full refunds will be made for any course with a live-course component that has been cancelled.

Registration Deadline: 01/30/2026

Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to begin this activity. 
2. Click Complete Post Test to answer multiple choice questions. Participants will have 10 attempts to pass and must answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly.
3. Click Complete Evaluation to provide valuable activity feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window. 
4. Click the button Claim Medical Credits in the box titled Claim Credits & Certificate. Choose the type of credit and click submit. Click the button View/Print Certificate to save or print your certificate. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the ASAM eLearning Center, clicking Dashboard, and clicking Transcript/Achievements.

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Accreditation & Credits

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the American Society of Addiction Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credits Available

• Physicians: 1 Credit
• Non-Physicians: 1 Credit
• Certified Counselors: 1 Contact Hour
• NAADAC: 1 CE Credit

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)/Continuing Certification Program (CCP)

This activity is designed to meet the requirements for MOC/CCP for several primary physician boards and for state licensing CME requirements. MOC Credit is only reported and designated for ABA, ABP, ABIM, and ABS. By completing the online credit application and evaluation, the learner permits ASAM to report credits to the appropriate Board. Learn more.

• ABA MOCA 2.0®*: 1 Lifelong Learning | 1 Patient Safety
• ABIM MOC Points: 1 Medical Knowledge | 1 Patient Safety
• ABP MOC: 1 Lifelong Learning & Self-Assessment
• ABS Continuing Certification: 1 Accredited CME | 1 Self-Assessment

Additionally, this activity has been designed to satisfy the requirements of the following primary physician board certification requirements. Please confirm with your individual Board.

• American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
• American Board of Preventative Medicine (ABPM)
• American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

Certificates for other professions

All participants may request a certificate of participation upon completion of the activity and an online evaluation confirming their participation. Learners are strongly advised to contact their professional licensing board or professional association to confirm this certificate will be accepted as evidence supporting continuing education requirements.

California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE)

This educational program is approved by CAADE: #CP40 999 1225.

California Association of DUI Treatment Centers (CADTP)

This educational program is approved by CADTP: #205.

California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)

This educational program is approved by CCAPP: #OS-20-330-1224.

Disclosure Information

In accordance with the disclosure policies of ASAM and Joint Accreditation, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all accredited continuing education activities. These policies include identifying and mitigating all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved in the creation and dissemination of accredited continuing education.

See the attached pdf for a list of disclosures.

  American Society of Addiction Medicine has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7062. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Society of Addiction Medicine is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

MOCA 2.0® is a trademark of the American board of Anesthesiology®.
This activity contributes to the patient safety CME requirement for Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment of the American board of Anesthesiology's (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, https://www.theaba.org/, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.

The complete list of disclosures and designation statements are linked below.