Hyperarousal PTSD and Alcohol Abuse: Inequitable Treatment and Impact of Substance Use Among African American Women

Abstract

Throughout history Black women have consistently been underrepresented in almost every aspect of society. This article examines the intersection of race, class, gender, and social systems as they relate to hyperarousal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse. Although there is an abundance of literature regarding substance abuse in America, it has been reiterated in previous research that substance abuse in the African American community is severely understudied, with special regard to the misunderstanding of substance use among Black women. Drawing on the Angry Black Woman (ABW) archetype, I analyze historical and current social structures that render Black women especially susceptible to an underdeveloped window of tolerance for stress. The aim of this article is not only to contribute to the lacking body of research for this group, but also to suggest that hyperarousal PTSD serves as a direct determinant for alcohol abuse in African American women.