Stigma Reduction July 19 2018 Presenters Ashley Potts

Stigma Reduction July 19, 2018 Presenters: Ashley Potts, MSW, LSW

Opioid Use Disorder Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.

Devastating Statistics § There are more Americans that died in 2016 due to an accidental drug overdose than died in the entire Vietnam and Iraq Wars § Pennsylvania had a 44% increase in overdose deaths in 2017 § The death toll every 3 weeks from opioid overdoses is equal to the death toll of 9/11

Myths and Stigmas About Opioid Use Disorder • • It is a choice It is a moral failing They want to be that way They are bad people They are just “junkies” Darwinism- Survival of the fittest They are criminals It could never happen to me

Myths and Stigmas About Opioid Use Disorder They don’t really want help It is easy to get treatment They should just stop, it’s all about willpower If they didn’t want to live like that-they wouldn’t If you have an opioid use disorder you can’t have pain • Narcan enables substance use • Medicated Assisted Treatment enables substance use • • •

What Does Stigma Mean To You

The Truth About Opioid Use Disorder • I’ve never met someone who reported that when they were a child their life goal was to become a heroin addict • It can happen to anyone • Individuals who have Opioid Use Disorder play many roles in life such as mother, father, son, daughter etc. .

How Does It Happen • • Trauma Physical injury Surgery Dental Work Peer Pressure Social learning theory Culture There are numerous pathways to Opioid Use Disorder

Understanding the Patient • When we understand the patient is in a crisis it is easier for us to keep ourselves emotionally regulated • Do not take things the patient says personally • Remain calm, understanding, and empathic • If the patient is upset, and then we become upset, the rapport can become damaged • If our rapport becomes damaged we may start to tell others about how upset the patient has made us causing the culture of their treatment to change

How do we Effectively Communicate with a Complex Care Patient • The individual must first be out of the crisis response and their brains must be calmed. • Show empathy • Rate of speech and tone of voice • Demonstrate Understanding, if you don’t understand the patient ask for clarification • Be genuine • Body language, standing in non-judgmental positions • Eye contact

Meet the Patient Where They Are • It is important to understand that we often live in separate realities/worlds • We all come from different walks of life, making our perceptions of life different • In order to achieve maximum communication and understanding we must first understand the patient’s perception and understanding of the presenting situation • We must communicate in a manor that is easily understood

Language Matters • Changing language is a way to personally and culturally close one chapter in our history and open another. • Language is filled with layers of meanings that fill our personal and professional lives • We must be willing to question our beliefs and assumptions about language to be respectful to all points of view. • Language is the key to changing the way people with substance use disorders see themselves and the way they are seen by others.

Language Matters

Overview of Harm Reduction Philosophy § Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with substance use § Meet the patient where they are in their addiction § Utilize a holistic approach/treat the whole person § Provide harm reduction education techniques to individuals Safer injection techniques Naloxone training/education Naloxone access and administration training

How to reach us for further questions Ashley Potts, MSW, LSW Ashley. potts@ahn. org 412 -485 -9900