Social Determinants of Health: Addiction and SUD related (2025-2026 Recording)-Social Determinants of Health: Addiction and SUD related Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This didactic session from Jefferson and the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine focused on how social determinants of health shape addiction and substance use disorder, especially in Philadelphia. The presenters framed addiction as a community and systems issue, not just an individual one, and emphasized the importance of structural inequities, racism, poverty, housing instability, and trauma.<br /><br />Dr. George Truong introduced key theories, including W.E.B. Du Bois’s work on Philadelphia’s Black communities, risk environment theory, and Nancy Krieger’s ecosocial theory. He highlighted how chronic stress, adverse childhood experiences, and structural disadvantage become biologically embodied and increase substance use and overdose risk. He also argued for viewing patients as resilient agents resisting premature death, rather than simply as “vulnerable” people.<br /><br />Dr. Gabriella Petrangolo then zoomed in on Philadelphia’s uneven health outcomes, showing stark differences in life expectancy and overdose deaths by neighborhood, especially in Kensington and North Philadelphia. She discussed local responses to the overdose crisis, including the Warm Line, bridge clinics, mobile care, methadone support, and “Level 4” rehab programs for medically complex patients.<br /><br />Amanda Swallow, a certified recovery specialist, described how lived experience helps her support patients through hospitalization, recovery housing, life skills, and independence planning. Her role centered on trust, motivational interviewing, and reducing barriers after discharge.<br /><br />The session ended with two patient cases showing both successful and complex recovery trajectories, underscoring that while housing, MOUD access, and care coordination can improve outcomes, social determinants continue to shape recovery in profound ways.

Keywords

social determinants of health

addiction

substance use disorder

Philadelphia

structural inequities

racism

housing instability

trauma

risk environment theory

ecosocial theory

overdose crisis

medication for opioid use disorder