Unlocking Health Equity in Substance Use Disorder Treatment:

The Role of Z Codes in Addressing Social Determinants of Health

In an era where health equity is at the forefront of treatment discourse, understanding the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) is crucial. These determinants, encompassing factors like socioeconomic status, education, and neighborhood environments, play a significant role in individual and community health outcomes. One of the tools in spotlight for addressing SDOH within clinical settings are the Z codes, as designated within the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM).  With the release of ASAM Version 4 all substance use disorder treatment facilities will need to gain familiarity with SDOH and Z codes to comply with dimension 6.