National Initiatives
Advancing health equity across communities
Voices of Equity unites our chapters under a national initiative to spotlight a prevalent issue in health equity. For Fall 2025, our focus is on addiction through the lens of health equity.
Addiction is not only a medical condition, but also a deeply rooted equity issue. Substance use and abuse is shaped by disparities in access to care, stigma, systemic bias, and socioeconomic barriers. Systemic and institutional effects shape differences in education regarding substance use, physical access to successful treatments, financial support for rehabilitation services, and more. Understanding these unique effects and differences is essential to comprehending the occurrence and prevalence of addiction, and how to help those who need it. Through this initiative, we aim to educate, advocate, and take action to support individuals and communities impacted by addiction.
As part of this initiative, all chapters will participate in Health Equity Week (October 20–26, 2025), a coordinated effort across more than 40 universities. This week will include:
- •Fundraising efforts to support national and local partners advancing equity in addiction care.
- •Advocacy campaigns that raise awareness and push for systemic change.
- •Educational modules to ground members in the science, policies, and lived realities of addiction.
- •Panels and guest speakers featuring professionals, advocates, and those with lived experience who inspire us to take meaningful action.
2025 National Initiative Partners
