Challenging Stigma & Creating Space for Conversation

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Whether it comes to using, misusing, or abusing substances, it is also important to address stigma—the shame or judgment often attached to substance use—through education, safety promotion, and fostering self-agency.

Cultural Norms & Expectations

Culture—including ethnicity, religion, nationality, and subcultures like athletic teams, student organizations, or academic programs—shape our expectations around substance use. Norms and expectations vary across cultures. While in some cultures, substance use is woven into the fabric of social gatherings and traditions, other cultures discourage or prohibit it. These norms impact individual choices and community attitudes towards substance use.

When it is Normalized

For individuals who belong to a culture or subculture where substance use is normalized, substance use/misuse might be reinforced, which can create barriers to seeking help.

When it is Discouraged

For individuals who belong to a culture or subculture where substance use is discouraged, they may face internal tension and conflict, struggling to cultivate a sense of belonging with peers while also honoring their values.

Varied Perspectives

Research shows that college students’ relationships with substances vary widely—and many students actively search for alternatives to substance use as well as ways to make more intentional decisions.

Racial & Cultural Stereotypes & Substance Use

Harmful stereotypes about certain racial or ethnic groups and their relationship to substances have roots in racism and white supremacy. It is important to understand that these patterns are not personal—they're structural. Challenging them takes awareness, cultural humility, and a commitment to equity.

Portrayal in Media

Black and Latinx communities have historically been portrayed in media and policy as more prone to substance misuse, even when rates of use are comparable to or lower than those of White populations. These stereotypes have fueled disproportionate punishment, surveillance, and incarceration rather than access to care, harm reduction, or support.

Cultural Insensitivity

Indigenous communities are often burdened by stereotypes that associate substance misuse with cultural deficiency or inferiority, ignoring the historical trauma, systemic disinvestment, and policies that have contributed to health inequities.

"Model Minority"

Asian and Pacific Islander communities may face the “model minority” stereotype, which suggests that they don’t experience substance use issues. This renders individuals within this community invisible and may discourage them from seeking help due to the cultural pressure to appear strong, successful, and problem-free.

Hazing, Bullying, & Gender Based Violence

More than half of violent acts involve substance use of the perpetrator, victim, or both; and research has shown a reciprocal relationship between alcohol and drug use and behaviors of hazing, bullying, sexual assault, and identity-based violence. This means that alcohol and substance use can both increase the incidence of these harmful behaviors, and those impacted may, in turn, engage in increased substance use as a form of coping.

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Phone: 410-617-CARE (2273)

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REACT is an online video that explains how to help yourself or someone you care about cope in healthy ways after a distressing life event (such as a trauma, assault, or loss).