This is part two of “Life or Debt,” Word In Black’s drug price series, exploring the ways Black folks living with chronic disease are forced to manage an expensive health care system. Read the series.
We all need health care, but rarely do most people know the ins and outs of the system. At Word In Black, we’ve vigorously reported on health care inequities, mental health, and what needs to change to treat Black folks better. But we’re taking a deeper look at the injustices related to access to and the affordability of pharmaceutical drugs.
About 133 million Americans are living with at least one chronic illness. And, Black people are at a disproportionate risk for developing for certain diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. A chronic disease diagnosis is often quickly followed by a treatment plan that includes prescription drugs.