Diversity and Justice Award Renamed in Honor of ASAM Past President Lawrence S. Brown Jr., MD

Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., MD

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has renamed its Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Justice Award in honor of Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM, president of ASAM from 2002–2005 and a national leader in public health, addiction treatment, and research.

The Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., MD Diversity and Justice Award promotes inclusion, diversity, equality, and justice in addiction medicine by honoring an individual whose clinical care, research, or professional efforts address injustice in the prevention or treatment of substance use disorders. It recognizes work that has meaningfully improved the lives of people with substance use disorders who have experienced discrimination, exclusion, inequality, or persecution.

“I am excited that this award recognizes diversity and justice as essential components of excellence in addiction medicine rather than separate aspirations,” said Dr. Brown. “By honoring individuals whose work advances equity, the award highlights the importance of confronting stigma, reducing disparities, and improving care for underserved populations. I hope it will inspire current and future leaders to pursue innovative solutions that ensure every individual affected by substance use disorder is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.”

The renamed award celebrates Dr. Brown’s decades of service to ASAM and his commitment to advancing ASAM’s mission of making treatment and recovery accessible to all.

Journey to Addiction Medicine

Dr. Brown’s career in addiction medicine began in his hometown of Brownsville, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. There, he saw firsthand the devastating effects of substance use disorder on his friends and neighbors.

“Addiction was, is, and unless there’s going to be a major change in society, will forever be a part of that landscape,” he said. “I lost a lot of friends to substance use disorders over the decades.”

After returning from his service in the Vietnam War in 1972, he completed his undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College to enroll at New York University School of Medicine. He graduated from medical school in 1976. He later completed his internship and residency at Harlem Hospital Medical Center, and a neuroendocrine research fellowship at Columbia University. Through his training, he began to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of substance use disorder and saw how addiction medicine could transform the health and wellbeing of people in his local community and beyond.

He went on to spearhead numerous research projects while at the Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation, later renamed START Treatment and Recovery Centers.

His dual role as a physician and researcher allowed him to investigate the issues his patients brought directly to him. And in the 1980s, he was quickly confronted by the urgent, intersecting crises of substance use disorder and HIV.

“The connection between addiction and HIV was an issue that was really important for me to address because of the stigma persons with substance use disorder were already experiencing, on top of the issues pertaining to HIV,” said Dr. Brown.

To address this challenge, Dr. Brown launched a series of research projects focused on integrating infectious disease screening and treatment with substance use disorder care, as well as supporting equitable access to evidence-based services. His research examined whether HIV screening services were being provided alongside substance use disorder treatment, and how to overcome disparities in access to this care. Over time, his work expanded beyond this issue to deal with substance use disorder treatment broadly, resulting in over 200 peer-reviewed publications.

Today, Dr. Brown serves as a medical advisor to the NFL, which first recruited him to develop its HIV screening policies. He also sits on the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, providing counsel on how to allocate funds to have the greatest impact on communities affected by addiction.

Strengthening ASAM’s Focus on Policy

In the 1980s, Dr. Brown also found his way to ASAM and became involved in supporting its mission to advance addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.

“It became clear to me that this was an area where I could work with other professionals who recognized the need to strengthen society’s appreciation, as well as the house of medicine’s appreciation, of the importance of addiction medicine,” he said.

Dr. Brown served as ASAM president from 2002 to 2005. His tenure focused heavily on strengthening ASAM’s policy work and presence at its annual meetings and recognizing the important role of advocacy in advancing ASAM’s goals of equitable access to evidence-based care.

“Back then, it was unusual to have conference sessions dealing with health care policy,” explained Dr. Brown. “That’s why I focused on that when I was president. And to me, that’s why I think it’s so invaluable to continue to support those who are involved in policy pertaining to substance use disorders. We must ask: What is it that we can do to strengthen the value that the public sees in having access to prevention and treatment?”

Celebrating Progress and Recognizing the Work Ahead

The field has made progress in expanding patient access to quality care and focusing upon the needs of marginalized communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those in the criminal justice system, said Dr. Brown.

But ongoing research shows that inequities persist. The field’s work is far from over.

“We must continue to eliminate barriers to timely, high-quality care, address structural racism and stigma, and ensure that every person with substance use disorder has the opportunity to receive compassionate, culturally responsive treatment,” said Dr. Brown.

Reaching this goal involves more than just expanding services: “It demands sustained commitment to community partnerships, workforce diversity, policy reform, and research that translates into equitable clinical practice,” he added.

Learn more about ASAM’s available awards and submit a nomination here. Nominations for the 2027 award cycle close on September 30, 2026. Award winners will be recognized at the ASAM 58th Annual Conference in Minneapolis, April 8–11, 2027.

There are countless ways to support ASAM’s mission and uplift outstanding addiction treatment professionals. Discover how you can give back here.