Abstract

Substance use and addiction continue to disproportionately impact communities of color, yet prevention efforts often rely on standardized models that fail to account for the lived experiences of trauma, systemic oppression, and cultural identity. This presentation explores how integrating trauma-informed care and culturally responsive frameworks can reshape prevention strategies and make them more effective, equitable, and sustainable. Grounded in clinical practice and supported by current literature, the presentation highlights how trauma, chronic stress, and environmental inequities serve as key pathways to substance use. Traditional prevention models tend to focus solely on individual behavior, ignoring the structural and relational factors that sustain cycles of addiction. To address these gaps, this session will introduce a multi-layered prevention model that centers healing, empowerment, and cultural connectedness. 
Key components of this model include:  
• Early intervention strategies grounded in emotional regulation and community resilience 
• Harm reduction and motivational interviewing within culturally relevant contexts 
• Addressing shame and stigma through group-based narrative healing 
• Partnering with families, schools, and local organizations to co-create prevention initiatives 
Attendees will gain practical tools and strategies to implement these approaches within schools, clinics, and community-based settings. A case example of a young adult client navigating recovery while managing intergenerational trauma and systemic barriers will be discussed. The presentation will conclude with a call to reframe addiction not just as a clinical issue, but as a public health and social justice imperative.