The Cultural Divide: How Racism Shapes Recovery Journeys in Communities of Color

Bridging the Gaps: Reimagining Opioid Recovery

When cultural barriers meet systemic racism in addiction treatment, the results can be devastating for communities already facing disproportionate substance use impacts. This powerful conversation with Yusuf Shafi, CEO of Alliance Wellness, and Dr. Cedric Weatherspoon of Empower Therapeutic Support Services reveals the complex realities faced by Black and East African communities seeking help for substance use disorders in Minnesota.
Both leaders bring deeply personal connections to their work. Yusuf shares how witnessing a neighbor's struggle with alcohol as a 12-year-old Somali immigrant sparked his passion for addiction treatment, while Dr. Weatherspoon describes growing up during the crack epidemic and now watching fentanyl devastate the same communities. Their frontline experiences illuminate how cultural disconnects, language barriers, and provider biases create significant obstacles to effective care.
The discussion doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths: Minnesota ranks fourth worst for Black Americans in socioeconomic outcomes, standard treatment models often fail communities of color, and the mental health workforce remains overwhelmingly white. When Somali clients lack words in their language to describe mental health concepts, or when Black clients encounter providers who don't understand intergenerational trauma, treatment outcomes suffer.
Yet this conversation offers more than criticism – it presents a roadmap for transformation. From building culturally specific treatment centers to developing research led by people of color, from training providers in cultural humility to implementing accountability measures, the speakers outline practical steps toward more equitable care. Most powerfully, they demonstrate how providers who understand cultural context can bridge the gaps between evidence-based practice and lived experience.
Whether you're a healthcare provider, community advocate, or someone supporting a loved one through recovery, this episode will transform how you think about the intersection of race, culture, and addiction treatment. Subscribe now to continue this vital conversation in part two.

Chapters

1. Introduction to Racism in Treatment (00:00:00)

2. Yusuf & Cedric's Personal Journeys (00:08:13)

3. Cultural Identity & Substance Use (00:19:27)

4. Research Gaps & Cultural Models (00:33:48)

5. Weaponizing Diagnoses in Treatment (00:44:58)

6. Capacity Building & Implementation (00:52:09)