Health disparities in ethnic and racial minority populations with pain and opioid use disorder

Abstract

Healthcare providers are not prepared to address health disparities among ethnic and racial minority populations with either persistent and chronic pain or substance use disorder (SUD). Recognizing biases from policies to provide pain management and treatment for SUD in our healthcare systems, from our individual state laws and federal guidelines, is necessary. Biases are embedded in the screening and treatment of patients with chronic pain through the use of screening tools, opioid treatment agreements, and prescription drug monitoring programs. Additionally, the punitive treatment of people of ethnic and racial minority populations who experience persistent and chronic pain, opioid use disorders, or other SUDs needs to be redirected to facilitate solutions rooted in equity.