Recognizing geographical differences in substance use is a critical part of addiction psychiatry practice, particularly since drug use trends and patterns evolve over time and substances may migrate from one region to another. Substance use and substance use disorders (SUD) in the southern United States, oftentimes overlooked in political and academic discourse, represents an important area of focus due to its impact upon overdose mortality, higher regional rates of HIV and Hepatitis B/C infection, and other negative outcomes. As such, examination of substance use in the South through continuing education in cultural competency and humility can assist with the dismantling of social and structural determinants of mental health and allows addictions treatment providers to better treat members of diverse communities across the US. Lean, also known as “sizzurp” or “purple drank,” is an opioid drink formulation commonly consumed in Southern urban centers. In this film and media workshop, images from popular hip hop videos alongside an episode from the Netflix original series, “Mo,” which follows the story of a young Palestinian man living in Houston, Texas who becomes addicted to “lean,” will be shown to illustrate the nuances of opioid use among racially minoritized persons living in the South. Imagery from hip hop videos which present lean as an essentially harmless “party” drug will be contrasted with Mo’s experience with lean initiation and opioid withdrawal. Participants will be asked to consider how psychoeducation, assessment, and treatment of OUD might be offered in clinical settings in the South and beyond.

• Describe the characteristics of lean: how it is made, pharmacology, epidemiology, and impact upon communities in the South.
• Recognize and critically examine images of lean use in hip hop videos/culture and media, contrasting with images of opioid use in society writ large.
• Develop skills for the provision of psychoeducation regarding lean as well as the assessment and treatment of lean use disorder.

• Opioid Crisis
• Pop Culture
• Social Determinants of Health

Daryl Shorter, MD, Chairperson

    

Dr. Daryl Shorter is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is Board Certified in both General and Addiction Psychiatry. A graduate of Rice University (BA Sociology) and Baylor College of Medicine (MD), Dr. Shorter completed General Psychiatry residency at The Ohio State University Medical Center and Addiction Psychiatry fellowship at New York University/Langone Medical Center. Dr. Shorter is an Associate Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. He also serves as the Medical Director of Addictions and Recovery Services at the Menninger Clinic as well as the Program Director of the BCM Addiction Psychiatry fellowship. Dr. Shorter is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters focusing on medication treatment of substance use disorders and addictions training in graduate medical education. In addition to his work at Menninger, Dr. Shorter is the psychiatrist of record at The Montrose Center, Houston’s LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health and Community Center, where he supervises Addiction Psychiatry fellows who provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. He speaks widely on topics related to mental health, the LGBTQ+ community, and addictions treatment. 

Adith Ram, Presenter

 

My name is Adith Ram, and I am a third-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine interested in pursuing a career in addiction psychiatry! 

Michelle Durham, MD, Presenter
 
Michelle P. Durham, MD, MPH, DFAPA, DFAACAP is a triple boarded physician with national certification in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. She is a Senior Fellow for Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health at the Meadow Mental Health Policy Institute. Previously, Dr. Durham was the Vice Chair of Education at Boston Medical Center (BMC) Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. She is voluntary Clinical Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. Dr. Durham has worked in large public hospital serving individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use issues who are disproportionately impacted by trauma, racism, structural trauma, and family disruption. She has extensive experience across a continuum of mental health treatment settings including psychiatric emergency departments, mobile crisis teams, in home and outpatient clinics. She also provided consultation to primary care physicians at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and in the hospital setting. She provides expert evaluation and testimony for forensic civil and criminal cases. She has practiced in public and private settings serving both children and adults.

Dr. Durham’s federally and privately funded research focused on workforce development that reflects groups historically excluded from medicine, training and education for both the pediatric workforce and mental health professionals as well as trauma informed clinical services for youth and families. She has expertise in pediatric integrated care, trauma in communities of color, and training and education for the both the pediatric workforce and mental health professionals and has presented nationally and internationally on these topics. She is involved at the state and national level with the American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to improve the standard of care for adults, children, and adolescents. She has testified for the U.S. Senate HELP and Finance Committees to advocate for increase funding, access and parity in mental health and substance use treatment.