To truly understand the breadth and reach of stigma, we recommend viewing the videos for the first four stories below in the order listed.
Fentanyl Poisoning: Dr. Karen Jackson’s Story – Katrice Galloway shares her story of losing her sister to fentanyl poisoning, recorded during the DEA Family Summit on Opioid Overdose and Fentanyl Poisoning.
Ending the Stigma of Opioid Use Disorder – This video from the Opioid Response Network (ORN-STR) and American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) highlights the voices of patients who are living with OUD to help emergency medicine physicians reduce the stigma of OUD.
AHA’s Behavioral Health Resources on Combating Stigma – Nancy Howell Agee, CEO of Carilion Clinic, discusses stigma in health care settings and the negative impact it has on those with OUD and suggests ways to equip health care providers and staff with tools to understand stigma and its effects.
The Shame, the Denial, the Stigma of Addiction – Justin Phillips, founder of Overdose Lifeline, provides her perspective on the harmful effects of shame and stigma in dealing with the loss of her son to opioid addiction. She shares her remorse at “not treating the chronic disease of addiction the same way we treat other chronic diseases.”
Breaking Down the Stigma of Addiction: A Witness’s Story Through Art – Artist and advocate William Stoehr shares his story of losing his sister to an opioid overdose. Painting a picture of hope, he reminds everyone there is support and that no one is alone. It also provides information about SAMHSA’s National Helpline for those with a SUD who need help or their loved ones who may be seeking support.
Real Stories from Real People: Overcoming Addiction – Real stories from 13 real people who have shared their personal accounts about dealing with prescription opioids.
#WorkInProgress | From addiction to the front lines of the opioid crisis – Skye Tikkanen tells her story about how she and other former heroin users are coaching overdose victims into recovery and creating new pathways back to work. Briefly discusses stigma.
JUST THINK TWICE (a series of written stories)
Shine a Light on Stigma: Taking Action in the Community
Mona Matthews, Program Manager at MetaStar, a Superior Health Quality Alliance partner, shared how the Shine a Light on Stigma campaign has empowered her to take action. “The most impactful part of Shine a Light on Stigma was the information about using person-first language. I’ve worked on my own language and been able to communicate to others the importance of person-first language and how to do it. The resources in Shine a Light on Stigma gave me confidence in calling attention to person-first language without sounding critical.”
She also shared that she is a member of a community organization that includes people from all walks of life among its members. This organization has a gathering place in the community with a bar that is rented out to the public for weddings and other events. She proposed to the group that they consider having Naloxone onsite. Naloxone is a safe, easy-to-use medication to treat suspected opioid overdoses. Her organization worked through the statewide peer-run group Wisconsin Voices for Recovery to install a Nalox-ZONE box.
Mona’s community organization has over 30 local chapters across the state. She was recently invited to present to their Drug Awareness Committee of Wisconsin about her chapter’s experience with Nalox-ZONE and the Shine a Light on Stigma campaign. Mona said several group members had taken the pledge and shared that the resources are very helpful. Plans are in the works for Mona to present at a statewide meeting.