Studies show that racial discrimination influences clinical decision-making and affects clinician-patient interactions.Implicit racial bias is associated with reduced trust in physicians, decreased likelihood to follow treatment recommendations and lower satisfaction with care received among African-American adults suffering from chronic disease.

 Racial discrimination can play a foundational role in worsening African-American retention in substance abuse treatment by aggravating factors such as those listed below:

• BARRIERS TO TREATMENT

• LACK OF ACCESS TO NEEDED ANCILLARY SERVICES

• LOW SATISFACTION WITH TREATMENT