In this activity, you will compare and contrast the health status and experiences of two different races and discuss, focused on substance use disorders, how race influences a patient’s health status and experiences.

Step 1. Select (10 minutes)

Select one racial minority in your country or region. 

Example: Hispanics in the United States

Step 2. Compare and contrast (30 minutes)

Compare and contrast your selected racial minority with a racial privileged or majority, i.e., “White” Americans, in terms of the following indicators:

• Health status

• Health care access and affordable coverage

• Access to substance use and abuse care and treatment

Step 3. Respond (210 minutes)

Imagine yourself as a contributing writer for a medical journal, tasked to write an article for this month’s theme on Race and Health. 

Prepare a 300-700 word article that discusses the following key components:

• Difference between your selected racial minority and racially privileged group in terms of

• Health status

• Health care access and affordable coverage

• Access to substance use and abuse care and treatment

• Needs of the racial minority facing health disadvantages

• Creative approaches to address the problem and promote racial health equity and better access to substance use and abuse care and treatment.

Step 4. Submit (10 minutes)

OPTIONAL Step 5: Interact (10 minutes)

If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”