TruHealing Centers is offering $750,000 worth of scholarships to Black Americans struggling with addiction. This will fund all levels of care, from detox to outpatient treatment.
Black Americans face barriers to quality treatment. One study found that white individuals with opioid use disorder are nearly 35 times more likely to receive buprenorphine, a medication that curbs cravings and can prevent overdose. Black and white Americans use drugs at similar rates, but Black Americans are incarcerated for drug offenses at six times the rate of white citizens.
Amatus wants to help change these statistics. “No one should be punished for having an addiction,” said TruHealing Centers COO Michael Silberman. “Everyone with a substance use disorder deserves high-quality treatment and support. We feel lucky to be able to provide the Social Justice Scholarship to people who otherwise wouldn’t access treatment.”
Matt Bell, CEO of Midwest Recovery Center—an Amatus Recovery Center in Toledo, Ohio—shares this sentiment. Bell was one of the first clients of D.A.R.T., a program that focuses on addiction treatment instead of jail time. He now works with that same program and is a passionate advocate for prevention and education in his community.
“It’s important to give people with substance use disorders a chance,” he said. “People are capable of so much when given the right tools and resources. We don’t want anyone to slip through the cracks.”
To apply for the Social Justice Scholarship, fill out the attached form.