Did you know stigma can shorten a person’s lifespan by 12 years? In this episode of Addiction Medicine Made Easy, Casey Grover, MD reviews what stigma is, how it affects patients with stigmatizing conditions, and how to reduce stigma in health care.

In recent years overdose death rates have been highest among American Indian and Alaskan Native People. Research prioritized by native communities is essential for enhancing and promoting positive health outcomes. The Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Program will support research projects led directly by Tribes and organizations that serve Native American communities. The NIH will also support the development of a Native Research Network to provide training, resources, and real-time support to N CREW participants.

How can stigma contribute to the deaths of people struggling with substance use disorder (SUD)? Stigma can cause social isolation and can discourage people from seeking help. Which can lead to an influx in substance related deaths. To raise awareness Shatterproof has issued a report about this pressing issue impacting our nation. This deeper understanding can provide insights into how stigma manifests and impacts people living with SUD, their loved ones, and their communities.

The toolkit was conceived and developed by Arlene Brown, a member of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, with support from NHRC staff, including Jessica Smith. It draws on insights from Tribal and Urban Native communities throughout California and incorporates resources from Indigenous harm reduction leaders across the nation and beyond.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education created a template to be used for other overdose prevention coalitions to use for outlining the overdose crisis locally, their coalition's history, achievements, and ways for new members to get involved. This fact sheet can serve as an effective tool for communication and engagement with the community, coalition partners, and local decision-makers.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education created a template to be used for other overdose prevention coalitions to use for outlining the overdose crisis locally, their coalition's history, achievements, and ways for new members to get involved. This fact sheet can serve as an effective tool for communication and engagement with the community, coalition partners, and local decision-makers.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education created a template to be used for other overdose prevention coalitions to use for outlining the overdose crisis locally, their coalition's history, achievements, and ways for new members to get involved. This fact sheet can serve as an effective tool for communication and engagement with the community, coalition partners, and local decision-makers.

The Trinity Overdose Safety Coalition have provided their updated coalition charter to serve as an example for other overdose prevention coalitions. The charter provides coalition members with a formal operating structure and information needed to better understand the coalition’s overall purpose.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education recently introduced a newsletter for their coalition an community members that focuses on highlighting partner achievements, showcasing the positive work being done by their coalition members like law enforcement, treatment centers, and youth groups in the county. This newsletter can be an example to be an adopted for your overdose prevention coalition.

Given the diversity of the El Dorado Coalition on Overdose Prevention and Education, developed a collaborative agreement. This is essential to ensure that every voice is heard and provides unity in their mission to save lives, despite differing opinions. This document can be used as an example to be adopted for your overdose prevention coalition.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education (COPE) developed a comprehensive one-sheet fact sheet outlining the overdose crisis in El Dorado County, the coalition's history, achievements, and ways for new members to get involved. This fact sheet can be used as an example for your overdose prevention coalition and can serve as an effective tool for communication and engagement.

The SLO Opioid Safety Coalition created this organization structure info sheet for the community and members of their coalition. The info sheet provides a brief overview of the history and what the coalition is, the vision and mission statement, the coalition objectives and strategies, and the current membership. This resource can be used as an example to be adapted for your overdose prevention coalition.

The Trinity Opioid Safety Coalition created this new member welcome packet to provide the new coalition members with what the coalition is, the “why” behind the coalition’s efforts in a way to establish a common identity and purpose among members. This new member packet can be used an an example and be adapted for your overdose prevention coalition.

The San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Opioid Safety Coalition created a coalition member commitment form to establish a partnership agreement and foster better collaboration among coalition members. This form can be used an an example and be adapted for your overdose prevention coalition.

Drug overdoses have affected all communities across the United States. Yet there are notable racial and ethnic disparities that have emerged over the past 25 years, even though people of all races and ethnicities use drugs at similar rates. Racism, lack of access to treatment and services, targeted drug enforcement, and stigma are some of the most common factors contributing to these tragic losses in our communities. DPA has developed three new fact sheets that describe overdose death trends among Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. They also provide policy recommendations and strategies for how our elected officials can save lives. 

Drug overdoses have affected all communities across the United States. Yet there are notable racial and ethnic disparities that have emerged over the past 25 years, even though people of all races and ethnicities use drugs at similar rates. Racism, lack of access to treatment and services, targeted drug enforcement, and stigma are some of the most common factors contributing to these tragic losses in our communities. DPA has developed three new fact sheets that describe overdose death trends among Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. They also provide policy recommendations and strategies for how our elected officials can save lives. 

Drug overdoses have affected all communities across the United States. Yet there are notable racial and ethnic disparities that have emerged over the past 25 years, even though people of all races and ethnicities use drugs at similar rates. Racism, lack of access to treatment and services, targeted drug enforcement, and stigma are some of the most common factors contributing to these tragic losses in our communities. DPA has developed three new fact sheets that describe overdose death trends among Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. They also provide policy recommendations and strategies for how our elected officials can save lives. 

The Drug Policy Alliance’s newest video resource is focused on dispelling myths surrounding fentanyl and features, Dr. Goodman-Meza an expert on the intersection of infectious diseases and addiction. He knows better than most how crucial it is for us to approach drug use and the overdose crisis with solutions based in health and science.

ChangeLab Solutions has developed guides that offer a range of evidence-based policy strategies and a roadmap to policy implementation that can advance equity and prioritize care over punishment for people who use drugs. The strategies are intended to support state and local decision makers, government agency staff, public health practitioners, and community members in considering policies to prevent overdose and reduce other drug-related harm in their communities.

The following document summarizes recent policies in California aimed at overdose prevention, substance use disorders (SUD), and mental health based on a presentation by Riana King, Principal Consultant with the California Assembly Committee on Health, during the Summer 2024 COPN Convening. The legislative policies are categorized into four main areas: Funding Capacity, Treatment & Access, Harm Reduction & Prevention, and Oversight & Accountability.