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Community Resource Mapping Students will research and identify community resources in their local (Raleigh NC) area that provide substance misuse services for individuals who belong to marginalized communities. After locating these services, students will present their findings in a 5–7-page APA 7th edition professionally formatted paper. The paper should include the following. • Title Page (with author’s note) • Abstract (with keywords) • Introduction • Discussion on the impact of racism, discrimination, and oppressive policies on marginalized communities • The identified resources in your community and how they work to combat these issues (if there are no resources in your community, identify resources in a nearby community) • The gaps in services in your community, the impact on the marginalized communities, and how social workers can best fill these gaps • Summary and Conclusion • Reference Page (5-10 scholarly reference to support your ideas presented in the paper). **Writing Tip: Create a header in your paper for each of the sections identified above to ensure that you have met every required element.

Community Resource Mapping Paper Rubric: Criteria Points Description Title Page: The title page is in APA 7th edition professional formatting and includes the author’s note. Abstract: The abstract is in APA 7th edition professional formatting, words long, and includes 3-5 keywords. Introduction: The introduction provides a brief overview of the paper. PLEASE SPELL GRAMMAR AND UPLOAD AI FORM

Paper for above instructions

Abstract

This paper explores substance misuse community resources available to marginalized populations in Raleigh, North Carolina, through a community resource mapping framework. It identifies key service providers, evaluates their responsiveness to systemic racism and discrimination, and analyzes remaining gaps that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The study highlights the persistent impact of inequitable policies, social injustices, and health disparities on communities of color, LGBTQ+ groups, immigrants, and low-income residents. Keywords: community mapping, substance misuse, marginalized communities, Raleigh NC, racism, discrimination

Introduction

Marginalized communities continue to experience disproportionate harm from substance misuse due to structural inequality, racial discrimination, and lack of access to culturally appropriate treatment services. In Raleigh, North Carolina, these disparities reflect long-standing patterns of social disadvantage shaped by systemic racism, limited healthcare access, and economic barriers. Community resource mapping provides a structured method to identify available support services, understand their strengths and limitations, and evaluate their ability to address the needs of diverse populations. This paper examines substance misuse resources in Raleigh, their alignment with equity-centered care, gaps in service delivery, and how social workers can effectively intervene.

Impact of Racism, Discrimination, and Oppressive Policies

Racism and discriminatory policies remain deeply embedded within healthcare systems, affecting access, treatment outcomes, and service quality for marginalized groups. Historic practices such as redlining, limited insurance coverage, and inequitable funding for predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods have contributed to reduced availability of behavioral health services. Systemic racism affects not only where resources are located but also who feels welcomed within those systems. For example, Black individuals are stigmatized more severely for substance misuse compared to White individuals, and research shows that they are far less likely to receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Additionally, social policies rooted in punitive rather than therapeutic approaches—such as the War on Drugs—continue to disproportionately criminalize substance use in communities of color. LGBTQ+ individuals experience discriminatory care practices, creating hesitancy to seek services. Immigrant communities, particularly undocumented individuals, encounter language barriers, fear of deportation, and lack of culturally competent treatment providers. Such inequities increase vulnerability, deepen mistrust in service systems, and contribute to health disparities that persist across generations.

Identified Substance Misuse Resources in Raleigh, NC

Raleigh offers several key community resources providing support for substance misuse among marginalized populations. Although services are available, access and quality vary depending on population needs, funding structure, and level of culturally informed care.

1. Wake County Alcohol & Drug Assessment Center

This center offers assessments, outpatient counseling, and case management services. It partners with local harm reduction organizations and provides referrals to detoxification and residential programs. For marginalized populations, the center offers sliding-scale payments and multilingual services. Their inclusion of peer support specialists helps bridge the cultural gap between providers and clients.

2. SouthLight Healthcare

SouthLight provides medication-assisted treatment, outpatient therapy, and crisis intervention. They have specialized services for justice-involved individuals—a demographic disproportionately composed of people of color. SouthLight’s culturally responsive care model includes trauma-informed counseling and community outreach programs.

3. Healing Transitions

This nonprofit provides long-term recovery services and emergency shelter without financial barriers. They explicitly serve individuals experiencing homelessness and those with co-occurring mental health disorders. Healing Transitions operates on a peer-led recovery model that fosters a supportive community environment.

4. NC Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC)

NCHRC is a statewide organization with strong presence in Raleigh, offering syringe exchange, overdose prevention education, naloxone distribution, and advocacy. They focus on serving communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, including Black residents, sex workers, LGBTQ+ individuals, and undocumented immigrants.

5. Alliance Health

As the managed care organization serving Wake County, Alliance contracts with providers delivering substance misuse treatment. They coordinate care across multiple agencies and monitor equity in service delivery. Through grants and state funding, they support culturally relevant behavioral health programs.

How These Resources Combat Systemic Issues

Each of these organizations attempts to address systemic inequalities through trauma-informed care, language-inclusive services, harm reduction approaches, and culturally tailored treatment. For example, NCHRC counters oppressive drug policies through restorative, non-punitive interventions. Healing Transitions reduces barriers to care for those experiencing homelessness, who are often criminalized. SouthLight integrates mental health support with substance misuse treatment, acknowledging the intersecting burdens faced by marginalized communities.

However, despite these efforts, challenges persist. Funding limitations restrict the capacity to serve individuals with complex social needs. Provider shortages in culturally competent care leave minority communities underserved. Community mistrust in healthcare institutions continues to affect engagement.

Gaps in Services and Their Impact

Significant gaps remain in Raleigh’s substance misuse services for marginalized groups. One major gap is the lack of transportation access, which disproportionately affects low-income communities and rural residents living near Raleigh. Although bus routes exist, many treatment centers are not easily accessible via public transit, resulting in missed appointments and disrupted continuity of care.

There is also a shortage of bilingual and bicultural providers. Spanish-speaking and refugee communities face language barriers that hinder treatment initiation and retention. LGBTQ+ individuals often report discrimination or uncomfortable environments where providers lack the training needed to affirm their identities.

Mental health and substance misuse integration remains insufficient, despite the high prevalence of co-occurring disorders in marginalized populations. Many clinics do not offer fully integrated services, forcing clients to navigate fragmented systems. Additionally, uninsured individuals face prolonged wait times or limited treatment options.

How Social Workers Can Fill These Gaps

Social workers play a central role in bridging these systemic gaps. They can advocate for policy reforms that expand Medicaid funding, increase harm reduction programs, and support culturally responsive care training. At the micro level, social workers can provide case management, connect clients to community resources, and assist with applications for financial assistance. They can also facilitate transportation coordination through community partnerships.

On the mezzo and macro levels, social workers can lead community outreach programs, collaborate with faith-based organizations, and participate in coalitions addressing racial equity in behavioral health. They can influence program design to ensure cultural competence, trauma-informed approaches, and respect for client autonomy. Their advocacy is critical in dismantling discriminatory barriers embedded within substance misuse treatment.

Summary and Conclusion

Raleigh, North Carolina, offers a number of valuable resources for individuals facing substance misuse, yet gaps persist due to systemic racism, discrimination, unequal funding, and limited culturally competent providers. Community resource mapping demonstrates that while organizations such as SouthLight Healthcare, NCHRC, and Healing Transitions provide essential services, marginalized populations continue to face barriers. Through targeted advocacy, policy change, and culturally grounded practice, social workers can address these inequities and enhance service accessibility. Strengthening community partnerships, expanding harm reduction initiatives, and increasing multilingual services remain essential priorities for improving health equity in Raleigh’s substance misuse care continuum.

References

1. NC Harm Reduction Coalition.
2. SouthLight Healthcare.
3. Wake County Behavioral Health Services.
4. Healing Transitions Raleigh.
5. Alliance Health MCO.
6. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
8. American Public Health Association.
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
10. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.