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Dr. Fred Rottnek is a Professor and the Director of Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Program Director of the Saint Louis University Addiction Medicine Fellowship. His clinical practices currently include addiction medicine and correctional healthcare. He teaches in the School of Medicine, the Physician Assistant Program, and the School of Law. Board-Certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, he is the Medical Director for the Assisted Recovery Centers of American (ARCA) and Juvenile Detention in Family Court for the City of St. Louis. He serves on the boards of the Saint Louis Regional Health Commission and Alive and Well Communities.  Email: [email protected] The funder of this project, along with all other products of the Mid-America PTTC is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although funded by SAMHSA, the content of this recording does not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA. The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. Drugs can alter important brain areas that are necessary for life-sustaining functions and can drive the compulsive drug use that marks addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a great recourse available titled Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. For more information visit -  https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain It is reported that only 25% of parents speak with their children about the dangers of drugs. How can we educate parents on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and provide them with the tools needed to guide and engage children through this very rough and sensitive terrain? Addiction is Real can help answer this simple question – to learn more visit www.addictionisreal.org  We’d like to hear from you, please send your comment, topic or guest suggestion to [email protected]

In this Issue:   National Alcohol Awareness Month Resources for the Prevention Professional National Women's Health Week, May 14-20 How to Find Help Epi Corner: Substance Use Disorders in People with Disabilities What's Happening Around the Region? Webinar: Substance Misuse Among Students with Disabilities, A 2-part series, April 26 and May 18 Free Online Courses through HealtheKnowledge SAMHSA's National Prevention Week, May 7-13

Prevention Spotlight: Investigative Reporting on Excessive Alcohol Use   Webinar Description Join the Northwest PTTC for this Spotlight Presentation, during which Independent journalist Ted Alcorn will present top-line findings of his ongoing, multipart investigation of alcohol’s impact on the state of New Mexico, where drinking kills at a faster clip than anywhere else in the country. He has also reported for the New York Times on alcohol mortality nationwide and policy changes pursued in Oregon. He will also provide insight into his reporting process and his views about the respective roles that journalists, advocates, and government officials play in advancing measures that improve population health and wellbeing.   Objectives Describe the outsize impact alcohol has on the state of New Mexico, some of the factors driving it, and evidence-based measures to reduce its toll Explain the role that investigative journalism has played in focusing public attention and galvanizing legislative action  Identify potential obstacles and remaining gaps to achieving progress in reducing alcohol-related harms   Webinar Recording Prevention Spotlight: Investigative Reporting on Excessive Alcohol Use Recording   Additional Resources Alcohol Awareness Toolkit, Northwest Prevention Technology Transfer Center Blind Drunk Series Main Page, New Mexico In Depth Blind Drunk Resources for Reporters, New Mexico In Depth Rethink the Drink, Oregon Health Authority   Presenter Ted Alcorn,  is an independent journalist whose reporting on health and justice has appeared in numerous publications. An adjunct at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, he was previously the founding research director of Everytown For Gun Safety and a policy analyst in the New York City mayor’s office. He earned graduate degrees at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and their School for Advanced International Studies, and lived in Beijing, China as a Henry Luce scholar.   Questions Contact Kathy Gardner ([email protected]) if you have additional questions about the content related to this webinar.

Our guest on this episode is Samantha Sherman, the Prevention Resource Center Director at Community Partnership of the Ozarks. She leads a team that provides substance use prevention TA, and works tirelessly to reduce stigma, suicide, and improve mental health awareness. The funder of this project, along with all other products of the Mid-America PTTC, is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although funded by SAMHSA, the content of this recording does not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA. Did you know nearly 700 publications and digital products are available on the SAMHSA store front. Visit https://store.samhsa.gov Learn more mental health first aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Visit https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/

Language Matters: Challenging Stigmatization Language about Addiction Jessica Hulsey, BA February 14, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Research has shown that the words we use to describe substance use disorders (SUD) and recovery have a significant impact on those struggling and how they are treated. While evidence shows that SUDs are medical illnesses, it is still too common for SUDs to be characterized as a moral failing or character flaw. Disparaging words are, unfortunately, still used to describe SUDs and the individuals suffering from them. Research suggests that improving our language when we describe addiction, such as using person-first language when talking about the disease, restores and empowers the humanity of individuals, rather than defining them by their illness. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand that addiction is a medical condition, and the words we use to describe it should be non-stigmatizing. Understand the importance of person-first language and how to implement it when talking about substance use disorders (SUD). Understand the role stigma plays in keeping individuals with SUD from seeking help. PRESENTER Jessica Hulsey, BA is the Executive Director of the Addiction Policy Forum, a national nonprofit organization that leads the fight against the deadly consequences of addiction and helps patients, families, and communities affected by the disease. Jessica has more than 25 years of experience in the field of prevention, treatment, and policy solutions to address substance use disorders and has collaborated with our nation’s top scientists to translate the science of addiction into digestible content for patients, families, and other key audiences.  

Stigma Series Part 2: Debunking the Myths Around Addiction Jessica Hulsey, BA October 12, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Substance use disorders (SUD) are some of the most highly stigmatized health conditions worldwide, and stigma creates barriers to early intervention, screening, treatment, and effective recovery. Addressing addiction like a disease instead of a moral failing requires shifts in practice as well as understanding. There is also a significant body of research defining the most effective treatments for substance use disorder (SUD). Yet many myths persist about the nature of addiction and the right ways to treat it. These myths remain due to various factors, most of which are rooted in deep-set cultural notions of addiction that fail to consider the science behind the disorder. These myths are uniquely harmful as they are often “assumed” to be true and thus considered by some to be self-evident. In this two-part presentation, participants will learn about addiction myths and misinformation, including the myth of ”28 days," the myth of replacing one drug for another, and the myth of “rock bottom”. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn about common myths and misconceptions about addiction and how to dispel them Understand common myths around Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Understand that addiction is a chronic relapsing disease and how to change the messaging in community. PRESENTER Jessica Hulsey, BA is the Executive Director of the Addiction Policy Forum, a national nonprofit organization that leads the fight against the deadly consequences of addiction and helps patients, families, and communities affected by the disease. Jessica has more than 25 years of experience in the field of prevention, treatment, and policy solutions to address substance use disorders and has collaborated with our nation’s top scientists to translate the science of addiction into digestible content for patients, families, and other key audiences.  

Stigma Series Part 1: Challenging the Stigma Surrounding Addiction Jessica Hulsey, BA October 5, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Substance use disorders (SUD) are some of the most highly stigmatized health conditions worldwide, and stigma creates barriers to early intervention, screening, treatment, and effective recovery. Addressing addiction like a disease instead of a moral failing requires shifts in practice as well as understanding. To challenge stigma, we must revise outdated ways of thinking about addiction to better align with the medical discoveries about what addiction does to the brain, and how it is most effectively addressed. In the first part of this two-part presentation, participants will learn about the basic principles of stigma, how stigma manifests and is categorized, how individuals with SUD are disproportionately stigmatized, and evidence-based stigma interventions. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand the basic principles of stigma Understand how stigma manifests for people with SUD Understand evidence-based stigma interventions Learn about common myths and misconceptions about addiction and how to dispel them PRESENTER Jessica Hulsey, BA is the Executive Director of the Addiction Policy Forum, a national nonprofit organization that leads the fight against the deadly consequences of addiction and helps patients, families, and communities affected by the disease. Jessica has more than 25 years of experience in the field of prevention, treatment, and policy solutions to address substance use disorders and has collaborated with our nation’s top scientists to translate the science of addiction into digestible content for patients, families, and other key audiences.  

In today’s video, we would like to discuss harm reduction and its importance and break down some of the stigma often associated with this topic.     Español  La reducción de daño En el video de hoy, vamos a platicar sobre la reducción de daño y su importancia al igual que desbaratar el estigma que comúnmente acompaña a este tema     Português Redução de danos No vídeo de hoje, gostaríamos de discutir a redução de danos, sua importância e quebrar um pouco do estigma frequentemente associado a esse tópico.

Developed by the Central East PTTC, this fact sheet serves as a resource for prevention professionals to understand stigma, it's effects on persons who misuse substances, the causes of stigma, ways to address stigma, and what prevention professionals can do. Linked in this digital fact sheet are a number of additional resources.                  

Preventing Substance Use Disorder Related Stigma Jessica Hulsey, BA March 17, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the world. This stigma creates barriers to early intervention, screening, treatment, and effective recovery. It also results in a lack of general public support for legislation that provides meaningful reform and fiscal support to prevention, treatment, and recovery. This webinar will focus on how to prevent stigma. Topics covered will include responding to misconceptions about substance use disorder, such as waiting for “rock bottom” and “teens are going to drink anyway, so they might as well do it at home”. The webinar will also discuss evidence-based strategies that can help to prevent stigma, such as increased addiction literacy. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand how to address common misconceptions about substance use disorders. Understand how to increase addiction literacy Understand how to combat stigma. PRESENTER Jessica Hulsey, BA is the Executive Director of the Addiction Policy Forum, a national nonprofit organization that leads the fight against the deadly consequences of addiction and helps patients, families, and communities affected by the disease. Jessica has more than 25 years of experience in the field of prevention, treatment, and policy solutions to address substance use disorders and has collaborated with our nation’s top scientists to translate the science of addiction into digestible content for patients, families, and other key audiences.  

Click Here to View Recording: Prevention's Role in Harm Reduction   Harm reduction is increasingly emphasized as an important approach when working across the continuum of care. While many in the prevention field remain focused on primary prevention, opportunities exist for preventionists to support and augment local harm reduction efforts. This webinar will focus on steps prevention practitioners can take to support harm reduction efforts, including: promoting community readiness to support harm reduction approaches, addressing substance use disorder-related stigma, and linking harm reduction efforts to more "upstream" efforts.   OBJECTIVES:  Describe how harm reduction can be addressed across the continuum of care Describe the primary prevention field’s role in harm reduction efforts Identify at least three actions prevention practitioners can take to support and augment local harm reduction efforts   FACILITATORS:  Chuck Klevgaard serves as a prevention manager for the Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center.  He delivers training and technical assistance to support substance misuse prevention throughout the Midwest. Chuck has supported communities and health agencies as they adopt evidence-based alcohol, opioid, and other substance misuse programs or policies. Chuck earned his BSW from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He is a Certified Senior Prevention Specialist through the Illinois Certification Board, Inc.   Kris Gabrielsen has worked in the substance misuse prevention field since 1991. She was the Associate Director of the Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT), co-authored the first Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training curriculum, and co-authored the textbook, Substance Abuse Prevention: The Intersection of Science and Practice. She works with states and communities across the nation to bridge the gap between research and practice, assisting prevention professionals in maximizing their effectiveness.

Building Great Rapport: How to Engage Patients with Unhealthy Substance Use Jim Winkle, MPH August 17, 2021, 1-3 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION By adopting a new approach, clinicians can greatly improve how they engage with these patients. This presentation will improve providers' ability to engage and build rapport by challenging assumptions that lead to stigma, applying principles of harm reduction, and performing a four-step brief intervention model that enhances the motivation of patients to decrease their risk of illness and death. As a result, clinicians who once considered these patient visits "difficult" can begin to perceive them as valuable opportunities to help patients adopt safer behaviors and forge their pathway to recovery. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the role of stigma towards patients with unhealthy substance use List the basic principles of a Harm Reduction approach to patient care Perform a four-step brief intervention in less than five minutes Use telehealth platform functions to effectively engage patients PRESENTERS Jim Winkle, MPH has trained hundreds of providers and clinical team members how to address substance use with primary care and emergency medicine patients. As the creator of the SBIRT Oregon website, Jim has designed screening forms, clinic tools and training videos used by health professionals across the country. Jim currently works as a consultant, delivering training and technical assistance to medical systems, universities, and professional organizations.

Stigma disproportionately influences health outcomes and mental well-being for individuals with substance use disorder. Fear of being judged and/or discriminated against can prevent people from getting the help they need. According to results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 20.5% of people with substance use disorder do not seek treatment because of negative consequences associated with their work; 17% do not seek treatment for fear of negative judgements by friends or community. It can also prevent caregivers and others from providing needed services, including medical care. To decrease the impact of stigma, the Region 5 Great Lakes PTTC offered a Community of Practice to provide rural communities in Region 5 an opportunity to learn from one another and to foster the implementation of anti-stigma initiatives. The goal was to promote the use of evidence-based strategies for the prevention and reduction of stigma and provide an opportunity for group problem solving.   This report shares the lesson learned in the Community of Practice. 

Monthly electronic newsletter for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.  The December 2020 issue of the Great Lakes Current includes a spotlight on Wisconsin, a new article in The Counselor's Corner, and links to the new COVID-19 Provider Well-being Supplement and the Spotlight on Stigma podcast series. 

    This recorded presentation from the Great Lakes PTTC gives an overview of stigma and its impact on people with mental health and substance use disorders. Narrated by Chuck Klevgaard, Great Lakes PTTC Prevention Manager. Click "download" above to access: Preventing and Reducing Stigma: Evidence-Based Practices Slide Deck Preventing and Reducing Stigma: Evidence-Based Practices Transcript    

Our introductory episode to the Great Lakes PTTC's new series, Spotlight on Stigma! Learn about the world of stigma and how YOU can make an impact in one of the most pressing issues facing SUD and Mental Health professionals today. For more information, visit the Great Lakes PTTC webpage, Preventing and Reducing Stigma.

Listen to the second episode of our Spotlight on Stigma podcast series: The Role of Faith Leaders.  Religious institutions offer support for people seeking help with a substance use or mental health disorder in an environment that respects their culture and values, with some studies finding that religious involvement is a protective factor for mental health and substance use. At the same time, religious beliefs about mental illness and substance misuse can lead to stigma, shame, and isolation if the illnesses are viewed as the result of sinful behavior or lack of faith. Guest presenter: Pastor Greg Delaney, Pastor of FREEDOM Church, an recovery ministry in Xenia, Ohio, serving the needs of those suffering from addictive and compulsive challenges. For more information and resources, visit the Great Lakes PTTC Preventing and Reducing Stigma webpage. 

Monthly electronic newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC. November 2020 issues features Native American Heritage Month, Veterans Day, and new resources including Stigma Basics, Counselor's Corner, and Telehealth Services for Mental Health infographic.  

According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 8 out of 10 people with a mental health condition reported experiencing shame and stigma that prevented them from seeking treatment. Stigma can be defined as an attribute, behavior, or condition that socially discredits an individual or populations in various capacities. Stigma disproportionately influences health outcomes and psychological well-being of individuals with mental health and SUD. Prevention practitioners are in a unique position to reduce the stigma surrounding substance misuse.   Click "download" above to access: Preventing and Reducing Stigma: Prevention Slide Deck Two-pager Related Resources Website: Preventing and Reducing Stigma         

Law enforcement personnel frequently interact with people with mental illness and SUD because these populations are disproportionately represented in jails and overall within the criminal justice system. Law enforcement personnel have to exercise substantial judgment about mental illness and SUD since law enforcement frequently serves as a gatekeeper between the criminal justice system and mental health systems. Law enforcement personnel would benefit from a greater understanding of various psychiatric conditions, mental health issues, SUDs, and their co-occurrence.    Click "download" above to access: Preventing and Reducing Stigma in Law Enforcement Slide Deck Preventing and Reducing Stigma in Law Enforcement Two-Pager Related resources Web Page: Preventing and Reducing Stigma         

Healthcare is defined as an organized system that strives to maintain or improve health by delivering services focused on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Healthcare professionals are a central part of this system, where they strive to improve access and quality health care. Healthcare professionals, specifically providers, may be concerned about their patient's SUD and how to provide quality care in treating it. Yet inadequate training, knowledge, or support structures for providers contribute to the stigmatization of people with SUD, resulting in poor quality of care and lower patient engagement and care retention levels.   Click the "download" button above to access:  Preventing and Reducing Stigma Slide Deck: Healthcare Fact Sheet: Preventing and Reducing Stigma–Healthcare Related Products Website: Preventing and Reducing Stigma          

While mental health and SUDs affect people from all walks of life and all age groups, people with these disorders interact disproportionately with members of the police force, fire department, and emergency medical services. Individuals with severe mental illness generate no fewer than 1 in 10 calls for police service.  Police transport an estimated 1 in 3 individuals in psychiatric crisis to hospital emergency rooms.  Frequent and repeated encounters with individuals struggling with mental health, substance use, and related behavioral health problems can produce compassion fatigue in first responders and perpetuate the misconceptions that individuals with mental illness are dangerous and/or that SUD is a moral failing. Training and education in substance use and mental health disorders can help first responders understand how stigmatizing attitudes and language can interfere with quality of care.    Click the "download" button above to access:  Slide Deck: Preventing and Reducing Stigma–First Responders  Two-Pager: Preventing and Reducing Stigma–First Responders   Related Products Podcast: Listen to Spotlight on Stigma Episode 1: The Role of First Responders Web Page: Preventing and Reducing Stigma     

Few teaching and training programs adequately prepare educators and staff to work with students who have a mental health or SUD.  Many training programs may perpetuate misconceptions about these students' needs. When they do not perform well, students with behavioral health issues can be labeled as "bad," furthering the disconnection. Early intervention and trajectory set the stage for interactions around mental health. Schools are often the first contact for students with SUD/mental illness. De-stigmatizing mental illness and SUD can allow students to get the educational accommodations and supports they need.    Click "download" above to access: The Preventing and Reducing Stigma: Education Slide Deck The Preventing and Reducing Stigma: Education Fact Sheet    Related Resources Web Page: Preventing and Reducing Stigma     

Most Americans are part of a religious institution, which is often the first point of contact for those seeking help with a mental health or substance use problem. Religious institutions offer support for these individuals in an environment that respects their culture and values, with some studies finding that religious involvement is a protective factor for mental health and substance use. At the same time, religious beliefs about mental illness and substance misuse can lead to stigma, shame, and isolation if the illnesses are viewed as the result of sinful behavior or lack of faith.   Click the "Download" button above to access: The Preventing and Reducing Stigma: Faith Leaders Slide Deck  The Preventing and Reducing Stigma: Faith Leaders Two-Pager Engaging the Faith Community in Substance Use Prevention: Rationale for Partnering and Resources to Support Your Efforts   Related Products Podcast: Spotlight on Stigma Episode 2: The Role of Faith Leaders Web Page: Visit the Great Lakes PTTC Preventing and Reducing Stigma webpage!