Bias and Cultural Assumptions in Reading Substance Use Signs

… more less Bias is a quick judgment made before the facts are in. Everyone has it, workers too. It shapes which signs you notice and what you decide they mean. Studies have found that Black and low-income parents are more often tested and reported for drug use than white parents, even when their rates of use are about the same. At the same time, a well-dressed parent in a nice house may be missed. Age bias cuts both ways. A teen's red eyes get blamed on drugs, while an older adult's falls get blamed on age. Disability can look like being high. A person with a speech problem, a brain injury, or a shaky walk is not drunk. Culture matters too. Some families drink wine with meals. Some use herbal remedies or faith practices you may not know. Ask, and do not assume. Before you write a concern, try this check: would I read this sign the same way if the client were a different race, richer, older, younger, or more like me? If the answer is no, slow down and gather more facts. After this Concept you can catch a snap judgment in your own thinking and test it before it shapes a case note or a report.