Dale Dagar Maglalang

In a time of great political unrest when strides on Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) are being upended in the United States, the profession of social work is once again at a juncture to uphold its mission, values, and principles or capitulate to the silencing and intimidation of oppressive institutions. In the belief that social work education and classrooms are sites of r/evolution, this paper uses counter-narrative autoethnography as a method where experienced social work educators and scholar activists identify pedagogical problems and tensions in the classroom and offer tools and activities informed by critical theories and frameworks to guide social work students toward transformational resistance. Through these critical counter-narratives, we aim to reimagine social work as a discipline capable of challenging traditional, hegemonic ways of knowing and doing, while preparing students to not only assess their immediate circumstances but also situate those circumstances within the broader sociopolitical and historical harms that shape present-day marginalizations and commit toward collective liberation and structural change.

The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by a surge in anti-Asian racial discrimination in the United States. To date, there has not been a study that examined the role of gender among Asian Americans (AAs) during the pandemic and its associations with racial discrimination and substance use. This study examined the relationship between COVID-19-related discrimination and substance use behaviors among AAs and investigated the moderating role of gender. We used survey data from N = 1,052 AA Chinese, Filipino/a/x, and South Asian adults (Mage = 36.58, women = 69%) collected in May 2022. COVID-19-related discrimination was measured across three dimensions: direct overt-, direct subtle-, and vicarious discrimination. Substance use outcomes included past-year frequency of alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, and other illicit substance use. Ordinal logistic regression models examined main effects and gender interactions. Overall, COVID-19 racial discrimination was significantly associated with increased odds of all substance use: alcohol (OR = 1.72), tobacco/nicotine (OR = 1.77), cannabis (OR = 1.85), and other illicit substances (OR = 2.88). Direct overt discrimination demonstrated the strongest associations across all substances. Gender significantly moderated the discrimination-substance use relationship for alcohol and cannabis, with men showing stronger associations (alcohol interaction OR = 1.46; cannabis interaction OR = 1.68). Marginal effects revealed that men experienced consistently larger probability increases in substance use across all discrimination types compared to women. COVID-19-related racial discrimination is robustly associated with substance use among AAs, with AA men demonstrating particular vulnerability to alcohol and cannabis use following discriminatory experiences. Results underscore the need for gender-specific, culturally tailored interventions addressing discrimination-related substance use in AA populations.

This article interrogates the myth of neutrality in social work—a passive complicity that upholds white supremacy as an epistemological norm. Drawing on critical race theory and liberatory praxis, we examine how dominant discourses weaponize claims of objectivity to stymie anti-racist and social justice efforts. Through conceptual analysis and literature synthesis, we argue that social work must evolve through three phases: from documenting inequity to analyzing mechanisms; from identifying harm to transformative action; and from micro-responses to collective mobilization. We reconceptualize historical inequities as complex trauma, demanding structural trauma-informed praxis across research, education, and practice. Findings from the literature reveal neutrality as an ideological enforcement protecting power. We conclude that conflict and discomfort are necessary portals for transformation. The profession must center care, responsibility, and conflict resilience to achieve justice-oriented moral transformation.

Introduction: Adults with low-income (LI) are more likely to smoke. Alternative Nicotine Delivery Systems (ANDS) like electronic cigarettes (EC) and oral nicotine pouches (ONP) are less harmful options that may help reduce the use, and ultimately risk, of combustible cigarettes (CC). This study examined facilitators and barriers to switching from CC to either EC or ONP among LI adults who smoked daily, enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thematic analysis of semi-structured one-on-one interviews with experimental group participants (n = 26) was implemented to identify themes related to the facilitators and barriers to switching from CC to EC or ONP. Results: Facilitators of switching to EC and ONP were the convenience of using these products in public and private spaces, their effectiveness at satisfying cravings for nicotine, and the perceived belief that ANDS are less harmful than CC. Barriers to switching to ANDS included delayed nicotine delivery, preferring the sensory experience of smoking to ANDS, and limited knowledge and misconceptions about ONP compared to EC. Conclusion: Participants indicated that both EC and ONP helped them cut down on CC use due to their convenience and ability to satisfy nicotine cravings. However, while participants believed that ANDS are less harmful than CC, more information is needed, specifically on the safety of ONP. Implications: This study presents compelling evidence that ANDS products are acceptable among LI populations who smoke, suggesting they could be used for reducing health disparities and mortality. However, public health education and messaging regarding ONP may be needed to facilitate switching.

Introduction: Understanding which theories have been effectively applied in tobacco control efforts for sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals will help identify constructs to incorporate into future tobacco control efforts aimed at reducing SGM tobacco disparities. This scoping review summarizes the use of theory in SGM-focused tobacco control efforts. Methods: We searched four databases using SGM- and tobacco-focused terms in November 2023. Two trained coders independently screened each title and abstract, reviewed the full text, and extracted data about theories used and which tobacco control measures from the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control were included. Results: The final analytic sample included 86 papers. Of those, 11 (12.9%) discussed price/tax manipulations, 15 (17.7%) discussed secondhand smoke and smoke-free policies, 11 (12.9%) discussed product characteristics (e.g., flavors), 5 (5.9%) discussed product disclosures (e.g., warning labels), 7 (8.1%) discussed packaging, 23 (27.1%) discussed education, communication and public awareness, 15 (17.7%) discussed tobacco advertising and promotion, 49 (57.7%) discussed tobacco prevention/cessation interventions, and 1 discussed Tobacco 21 (1%). Under half (31 articles, 36.0%) explicitly presented theoretical models. Conclusions: This review found a relative lack of theoretical models applied in tobacco control initiatives for SGM people. Of the 31 studies that did, most used theory to help clarify the etiology and associated factors of tobacco use (e.g., minority stress, increased exposure to marketing) or tailor prevention/cessation interventions focused on SGM individuals. Future studies should be grounded in theory to increase the effectiveness of these activities while preventing potential unintended consequences. Implication: This scoping review aimed to summarize which theoretical models have been implemented in relation to tobacco control measures among SGM individuals. Most theories were integrated in helping explain disparities or tailor interventions. Large-scale tobacco control initiatives may cause unique harm to SGM samples when critical theories are not integrated into their design and implementation.

Cultural values influence health beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Given the history of pre-colonial Philippines and under Spanish, American, and Japanese colonization, Filipinos have unique cultural values that are understudied in relation to health outcomes. The objectives of this study are to (1) create and validate measurement scales of surface level Filipino cultural values and (2) examine its associations with depressive symptoms and substance use in a sample of Filipino Americans. We analyzed data from the Midwest Longitudinal Studies of Asian American Families (MLSAAF) collected in 2013 of Filipino American parents (n=376). We implemented factor analyses to create and validate the scales and ordinary least squares and logistic regressions to examine the associations between Filipino cultural values and depressive symptoms and substance use. Factor analyses produced five scales: hiya (dignity or shame) from parent, hiya in general, utang na loob (gratitude or solidarity), pakikisama (companionship), and bahala na (determination). Hiya from parent was positively associated with depressive symptoms and hiya in general was negatively associated with depressive symptoms and alcohol use until passing out. The findings demonstrate the nuanced and complex means that Filipino cultural values have influenced health outcomes in Filipino Americans. This study is the first of its kind to quantitatively measure surface level Filipino cultural values. Future studies should consider using the measurement scales to better understand how intergenerational trauma and resilience through cultural values influence other health beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes in Filipinos in the Philippines and in the diaspora.

Young sexual minority adults experience high rates of heterosexist discrimination. The use of substances has been documented as a form of coping with discrimination. While mindfulness has been used to address experiences of discrimination and the use of substances, respectively, few studies have explored whether mindfulness can lower the negative effects of discrimination on substance use. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between heterosexist discrimination and substance use in young adult sexual minority men (YASMM), and if dispositional mindfulness can moderate this relationship. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of heterosexist discrimination and cigarette, e-cigarette, and hazardous drinking in a sample of YASMM (18-35 years old; n = 325) from a national survey. A two-way interaction analysis was also implemented to evaluate if dispositional mindfulness moderated this relationship. Heterosexist discrimination was associated with increased odds of cigarette use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.08) and e-cigarette use (aOR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.05). Higher scores of dispositional mindfulness moderated the relationship between heterosexist discrimination and hazardous drinking, indicating a weakening effect with higher scores of dispositional mindfulness. Mindfulness may decrease the negative effects of heterosexist discrimination on hazardous drinking among YASMM.Health Equity Implications: Researchers and practitioners should consider incorporating mindfulness as a component to their intervention to help YASMM deal with stressors engendered by discrimination, which may prevent hazardous drinking as a coping mechanism at a younger age.

Introduction: Alternative Nicotine Delivery Systems (ANDS) such as e-cigarettes (EC) and oral nicotine pouches (ONP) may facilitate the substitution of smoking for those unwilling to quit. This pilot study assesses the harm-reduction potential of EC and ONP among smokers with low socioeconomic status (SES). Aims and Methods: Adults who smoked daily in the past 6 months, had a household income < 250% federal poverty level and had no intention of quitting smoking in the next 30 days were randomized 2:2:1 to 8 weeks of 5% nicotine EC; 4 mg ONP or assessment-only control (CC). The primary outcome was a within-group change in cigarettes per day (CPD) from Baseline to week 8. Results: Forty-five individuals were randomized (EC: N = 18; ONP: N = 18; CC: N = 9). Analyses included 33 participants who completed the week 8 visit. The mean age was 50.1 years (SD: 10.7) and the average CPD at baseline was 13.9 (SD: 10.1). For those randomized to EC, the average CPD decreased from 14.7 (95% CI: 10.3 to 19.1) at the Baseline to 2.9 (95% CI: .1 to 5.8) at week 8 (p-value < .001). For those randomized to ONP, average CPD decreased from 15.0 (95% CI: 5.0 to 24.9) to 8.3 (95% CI: 1.3 to 15.2) by week 8 (p-value = .01). In the EC and ONP groups, respectively, 4 (28.6%) and 1 (8.3%) participant fully switched from smoking to the ANDS product by week 8. Conclusions: Individuals with low SES who smoke had lower CPD after switching to EC or ONP. These findings show the potential of ANDS in helping smokers switch to less harmful devices. Implications: This study provides novel evidence that e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches can be a harm-reduction tool for individuals with lower SES who smoke and are not willing to quit smoking, contributing to reducing tobacco-related disparities in this population. Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT05327439

Cannabis vaping is increasing in the United States. Among populations at-risk are sexual minorities (SM) who are more likely to vape cannabis compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Cannabis vaping has been associated with negative health outcomes and concomitant use of other substances with increased risk with more recent use. This study examined the association between SM identification and recency of cannabis vaping (the last occasion that a participant used their vape device with cannabis) and number of puffs (the count of puffs that the participant took during their most recent use of their vape device with cannabis) using Wave 5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. In a weighted sample of participants who reported ever vaping cannabis (N = 5,331), 15% identified as SM, about 60% vaped cannabis in the past 3 or more days, and the mean number of puffs was 2 (SE = 0.17). Using multinomial logistic regression and zero-inflated negative binomial regression, the results showed that compared to heterosexual adults who reported not recently vaping cannabis, SM had higher probabilities of vaping cannabis in the past 3 or more days, 1-2 days, and the day of interview. SM individuals were more likely to recently vape cannabis, placing them at higher risk for respiratory diseases and use of other substances. Public health researchers and practitioners need to identify reasons for cannabis vaping in this population and implement targeted public health messaging to inform SM communities of the potential health effects of cannabis vaping.