Blueprint Winter 2022

Understanding
health disparities
to chart a course for a
healthier tomorrow
by Creshelle R. Nash, M.D., MPH
Medical Director for Health Equity and Public Programs
As we look back on 2021, we reflect on our
experiences of the past 12 months and look
ahead to what the new year may bring. When
we did this last year, most of us reflected on the
trauma and disruption brought by the COVID-19 pandemic,
financial uncertainty and social unrest. We sat with the
pain of loss, the loneliness of isolation and yet held hope
for a stronger, healthier year ahead. It’s heartening to
see that, for many, 2021 turned out to be a brighter year
than 2020. However, the persistently poor experiences
of minority communities reinforce the need to address
health equity and disparities that disproportionately
affect those with the fewest resources to overcome them.
Many Americans will face 2022 in positions of greater
uncertainty and will need greater support. Beyond the
ongoing risks of the COVID-19 virus, a secondary crisis
– behavioral health – has emerged from untreated
health issues. Communities of color and low-income
populations are being hit the hardest and at greater
rates, further exacerbating disparities and inequities
in our nation.
Behavioral health issues have been on the rise in
America for some time. Yet the past 18 months has
brought to light a crisis of mental health and substance
use that is putting the lives of millions of Americans
at risk. One of the most striking issues is the dramatic
increase of fatal drug overdoses. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug
overdose deaths increased 30.8% nationwide between
March 2020 and March 2021. 1
While this crisis is one hitting communities across the
nation, some populations experience even greater risk.
States with lower income and lower access to resources
experienced far greater overdose deaths, including a
57% increase in Kentucky and a 62% increase in West
Virginia. Moreover, communities of color experience the
risk at greater levels. Research released in November
2021 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that
the overdose rate among Black people alone increased
by 38% from 2018 to 2019. While researchers continue
to explore the disparity among Black Americans, many
anticipate the variation to continue or even worsen
unless there is coordinated and intentional action.
10 WINTER 2022