A Message from Joseph Valdez, MD MPH FASAM

Reaffirming Our Commitment: ACAAM’s Updated DEI Action Plan and What It Means for Medical EducationJoseph Valdez Headshot

In these tumultuous times, the national discourse has grown increasingly divided, and efforts to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) face mounting scrutiny and resistance. Yet, amid these challenging headwinds, the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM) remains steadfast. We are proud to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to DEI as a cornerstone of academic excellence and clinical integrity in addiction medicine.

This commitment is not symbolic. It is rooted in the lived realities of the patients we serve and the systemic inequities that shape their access to care. Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are among the most stigmatized and underserved in healthcare. They are disproportionately impacted by factors such as structural racism, poverty, criminalization, and discrimination.

In addiction medicine, DEI is a clinical imperative. It is about ensuring that every patient receives compassionate, evidence-based care, and that our workforce reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

In April 2025, ACAAM reaffirmed its commitment to DEI by releasing a revised 9-point Action Plan, building on the foundation of its original 2020 framework. This updated plan reflects a more focused, strategic approach to embedding DEI across education, training, and clinical practice. 

Why DEI Is Essential in Addiction Medicine

Historically, individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) have been marginalized, criminalized, and excluded from mainstream healthcare. These inequities are not accidental—they are rooted in a long and painful history. Racism and substance use stigma have been deeply interwoven throughout U.S. history, each reinforcing the other. Furthermore, access to evidence-based treatment has often been shaped more by race, income, disability status, language, immigration status, and geography than by clinical need. These disparities persist today:

  • Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color face higher rates of overdose and lower access to treatment.
  • Non-white individuals are less likely to be prescribed medications like buprenorphine for opioid addiction.
  • LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of substance use and often enter care with more severe SUDs.
  • People with disabilities, those living in rural areas, and individuals with limited English proficiency often encounter additional barriers to care.
  • People in recovery continue to face stigma—not only in society but within healthcare systems themselves.

In this context, DEI is about more than representation. It’s about repairing trust, removing barriers, and welcoming all voices—especially those with lived experience. Individuals in recovery bring invaluable insight, empathy, and leadership to the field. Embracing their contributions is not just inclusive—it’s transformative.

A Note on Disparities in Medical Education

The need for DEI in addiction medicine extends beyond patient care—it begins in our training environments. Despite progress, many groups remain underrepresented among medical school applicants, matriculants, and faculty, including Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and first-generation students, as well as individuals from low-income backgrounds. For example, fewer than 5% of U.S. medical school faculty identified as Black or Latino. These disparities affect mentorship, curriculum development, and the inclusivity of academic culture—further underscoring the importance of ACAAM’s continued leadership in this space.

ACAAM’s 2025 DEI Action Plan: A Strategic Evolution

The updated plan reflects a more focused and strategic approach to embedding DEI across the addiction medicine landscape. Compared to the original 14-point plan introduced in 2020, the 2025 version:

  • Streamlines and consolidates overlapping initiatives into broader, more actionable goals.
  • Shifts emphasis from individual program-level tactics to system-wide strategies that promote sustainability and accountability.
  • Introduces new priorities, such as a formal commitment to harm reduction and destigmatization.
  • Broadens the lens on faculty development and representation, while continuing to prioritize recruitment and training of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

This evolution reflects ACAAM’s recognition that meaningful change requires both clarity of purpose and flexibility in implementation.

Supporting Academic Programs: A Shared Commitment

ACAAM and its DEI Committee are committed to supporting academic addiction medicine programs in aligning with the strategic priorities of the updated plan. This includes:

  • Providing educational resources and curricular materials that integrate DEI principles into clinical training.
  • Offering faculty development opportunities and promoting mentorship (such as with our support of REACH 2.0).
  • Encouraging innovation in recruitment and justice-informed training experiences.
  • Promoting accountability by sharing best practices and supporting programs in measuring progress toward DEI goals.
  • Promoting the principles of harm reduction and combating stigma.

By working together, we can ensure that DEI is not just a set of values—but a lived reality.

Joseph Valdez Signature

 

 

Joseph Valdez, MD MPH FASAM
Chair, Anti-Racism/Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee