Herren Project Honors Black Voices

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of Black individuals throughout history. This annual observance during the month of February serves as a reminder of the important role that Black people have played in shaping our world and our country.

The work of Black addiction professionals has revolutionized our field. For example, Frederick D. Harper, Ph.D. published his influential research in a 1976 book titled Alcohol Abuse & Black America. His work helped shape how we view modern alcohol use treatment.

Black people in recovery have also had significant contributions to the field. In 1994, Chaney Allen wrote the first autobiography about a Black woman in recovery, titled I’m Black and I’m Sober: The Timeless Story of a Woman’s Journey Back to Sanity, and later went on to train other professionals on how to properly work with Black people and other minorities struggling with substance use disorder.

Barriers and Obstacles

It’s also necessary to recognize the societal barriers and obstacles that have affected the Black community throughout history. The ongoing war on drugs has disproportionately impacted the Black community, leading to systemic racism and inequality within the criminal justice system. Despite studies showing that drug use is similar across racial lines, Black people are much more likely to be arrested and sentenced for drug offenses.

This has had devastating effects on the Black community, leading to mass incarceration and tearing families apart. It has also perpetuated systemic racism and inequality, as Black people are more likely to have a criminal record, which can make it more difficult to find housing, employment, addiction treatment, and other opportunities.

As we continue to confront racism and inequality in our society, it is important to recognize the role that the drug epidemic has played in perpetuating these issues and to take steps to address them. Black History Month is a time to educate ourselves about these issues and commit to taking action to create a more just and equal society.

Opportunities for the Future

In addition to honoring the past, Black History Month is also an opportunity to look toward the future. Let us use this month to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Black community, and to continue the fight for racial justice in the addiction field and in the world.

Herren Project’s vision is a stronger, more resilient, and connected community where all people thrive free of the effects of the disease of addiction. Herren Project is aware that barriers still exist within the black community, as well as other underserved communities, preventing individuals and their families from access to necessary recovery supports. In an attempt to meet the vision of an addiction-free world, Herren Project has come together as an organization, with the help of outside experts, to devise a plan to break down these barriers and bring lifesaving addiction services to all individuals and families in need.