This session provides a focused overview of social determinants of health and their impact on substance use disorders, including the influence of social, economic, and environmental factors on risk, access to care, and health outcomes, aligned with the ACAAM National Addiction Medicine Didactic Curriculum and ABPM content areas.
What This Covers• Social, economic, and environmental factors that influence risk for substance use disorders• The impact of social determinants on access to care and health outcomes• Frameworks such as risk environments and ecosocial theory to understand structural influences on substance use• The role of housing instability, access to care, and community resources in shaping substance use and recovery• Integration of social determinants into clinical assessment and care planning• Strategies to address systemic barriers and improve outcomes for patients with substance use disorders
How This Resource Is UsedThis session is designed for on-demand learning and targeted content review. It can be used to reinforce specific knowledge areas or as part of structured board preparation.
Lara Carson Weinstein, MD, MPH, DrPH
Dr. Weinstein is a family medicine and addiction medicine physician and serves as Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University. She is the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Distinguished Professor of Supportive Healthcare in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.
Her work focuses on health equity, integrated care, and improving outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders and serious mental illness through clinical care, research, and systems‑based approaches.
Gabriella Petrongolo, DO
Dr. Petrongolo is an addiction medicine physician who completed her Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University. She is a family medicine physician with a focus on the care of individuals with substance use disorders.
Her work includes clinical care and medical education, with an emphasis on expanding access to evidence‑based addiction treatment across healthcare settings.
Heather Alker, MD MPH
Dr. Alker is a physician who, at the time of this presentation, was an Addiction Medicine Fellow at Thomas Jefferson University. She completed her training in preventive medicine and has a background in public health with a focus on substance use disorder care and harm reduction.
George M. Truong, MD
Dr. Truong is a family medicine physician who, at the time of this presentation, was an Addiction Medicine Fellow at Thomas Jefferson University. His clinical interests include the care of patients with substance use disorders and co‑occurring mental health conditions, with a focus on improving transitions of care.
To support a meaningful learning experience and recognize your participation:
Access PeriodAccess to this recording is available through June 30, 2027, in alignment with ACAAM’s annual academic cycle.
Recording Release CycleACAAM releases updated recorded sessions each July based on the prior academic year’s didactic series. These recordings are available for a limited time and are retired on June 30 of the following year as new content is released.