Joyner also recognizes the structure of recovery programs can deter potential patients. “If an agency hires mostly white social workers or staff, that’s a problem. Black people often have a lot of distrust in the system, so a lack of diversity just subtracts that point of comfort.” Taking a brief look at the opioid epidemic, Joyner noted these drugs were mainly in the hands of white people living in suburban neighborhoods. “These were initially the people we saw overdosing. That’s why the epidemic came into the public eye in America in the first place.” Over the past few years, however, there’s been a shift to greater numbers within the Black community. “Now we’re in a different case. When a Black person is engaged in drug use, they tend to fall further down before services are available to them. They’ll often end up at treatment centers worse than what their white counterparts have because of a lack of services.” The programs within Black communities are generally publicly funded on small budgets with overworked employees. “This means there aren’t many specialized treatments for patients,” Joyner said. People dealing with debilitating diabetes, HIV, or a history of sex trafficking have other medical factors or traumas to deal with outside of drug abuse. This requires more complicated treatments that these programs just can’t offer.” These facilities also may not provide services like acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and fitness classes that are available in more affluent neighborhoods. REstructuring recovery programs
When addressing alcoholism in minority communities, Joyner says there is a need for comprehensive education. “Most people only know about alcohol the way the industry sells it. You know the culture around alcohol and that beer is the beverage you relax with. There’s nothing of substance telling you what you’re ingesting or what could happen if you make a habit of ingesting it.” The profitable business of the tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol industries relies on this lack of education. “They have to keep people addicted.” “ ...substance abuse really is the number-one crisis for Black people right now. ”
Viable Solutions
Over his 49 years in the field of counseling, Joyner has worked to find and implement viable solutions to these issues. “I know a lot of people might disagree with me on this right now, but substance abuse really is the number-one crisis for Black people right now. It just affects so many people, and the issue is rooted within our own families.” Two years ago, Joyner closed his private practice and started working in family education to counsel people trying to support loved ones suffering from substance abuse disorders. The program features two- hour sessions that create treatment plans to disrupt harmful stigmas and encourage constructive conversations within the Black community.
- JIM JOYNER
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