This collaborative series was developed by Superior Health Quality Alliance and Telligen in an effort to reduce stigma related to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) by addressing and understanding that SUD is a chronic condition and not a moral failing.
Learn more and listen to the entire podcast series here.
Episode 1: Making Space to Talk
In this episode co-hosts Brittany Rodriguez (Telligen) and Mia Croyle (Superior Health) share their personal experiences with SUD in a healthcare setting and they reflect on pivotal moments that shifted their perspectives on SUD by confronting their own biases.
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains references to gun violence, suicide, and opioid overdose.
Episode 2: Words Matter
In this episode co-hosts Brittany Rodriguez (Telligen) and Mia Croyle (Superior Health) share resources that are readily available and accessible that aim to help individuals commit to eliminating the stigma surrounding substance abuse. You can access Superior Health’s resources mentioned in this podcast, as well as Telligen’s Resource Card.
Episode 3: A Pharmacist Perspective, with Denton Chancey, PharmD
In this episode, Telligen’s Brittany Rodriguez and Superior Health’s Mia Croyle welcome guest Denton Chancey, PharmD, as he shares personal stories and professional history of the evolution and real-life effects of opioid prescribing guidelines and substance use disorder treatment.
Episode 4: The Lived Experience of Stigma
In this episode, Telligen’s Brittany Rodriguez and Superior Health’s Mia Croyle welcome Gresha Eberly, a Certified Peer Recovery Coach and public advocate with almost 10 years in recovery. Gresha shares her lived and professional experience with de-stigmatizing addiction treatment within health care settings.
Resources from this episode:
- Medication-Assisted and Abstinence-Based Treatment Approaches Can Share Common Ground (hmpgloballearningnetwork.com)
- Beating the Odds: Mom vs. Opioid Addiction (fox17online.com)
Episode 5: A Conversation with Shred the Stigma’s Drew Cook
In this episode, Telligen’s Brittany Rodriguez and Superior Health’s Mia Croyle talk with Drew Cook, executive director and board president of Shred the Stigma, a harm-reduction nonprofit based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma about their work eliminating stigma and creating positive health outcomes in the community.
Resources from this episode:
Episode 6: Stigma and Substance Use Disorder – A Conversation with ED Physician Bobby Redwood (Pt. 1)
In this episode, part one of a two-part conversation, emergency medicine physician and opioid use disorder (OUD) expert Dr. Bobby Redwood talks with Telligen’s Brittany Rodriguez and Superior Health’s Mia Croyle about the overlap of emergency and preventive medicine and the role of the emergency department in offering stigma-free services and resources to help people with OUD achieve recovery.
Resources from this episode:
Episode 7: Stigma and Substance Use Disorder – A Conversation with ED Physician Bobby Redwood (Pt. 2)
In this episode, part two of our two-part conversation with emergency medicine physician and opioid use disorder (OUD) expert Dr. Bobby Redwood, Telligen’s Brittany Rodriguez, and Superior Health’s Mia Croyle talk with Dr. Redwood about the challenges, strategies and resources to bring stigma-free, person-centered language to daily interactions with patients with OUD in health care settings.
Resources from this episode:
- Telligen Words Matter Badge Reel Card
- Telligen Opioid Misuse Resources
- Superior Health Shine a Light on Stigma Campaign
- Transcript
Episode 8: The Lived Experience of Stigma – One Family’s Journey
In this episode, Telligen’s Brittany Rodriguez and Superior Health’s Mia Croyle welcome Janice and Darren, who, after the overdose death of their son Andrew, began working in their community to de-stigmatize addiction and prevent overdose emergencies.
Resources from this episode:
- FDA approval information on OPVEE opioid reversal drug
- Where to get OPVEE
- Narcan (naloxone) Finder
Episode 9: Understanding the Connection Between Trauma and Stigma in Substance Use Disorder
A note about our content. This episode contains a discussion of childhood trauma and violence as well as a description of an opioid overdose event.
In this episode, Telligen’s Brittany Rodriguez and Superior Health’s Mia Croyle welcome Sara Jesse, community health manager for public health for Sauk County, Wisconsin. Sara shared her personal connection to the issue, having lost her sister to opioid overdose, and her commitment to healing and reducing stigma. The conversation concluded with a discussion on the connection between trauma and stigma. The participants emphasized the need to challenge stigma, the impact of external factors on personal choices and outcomes, and the role of empathy and understanding in addressing substance use disorders.
Episode 10: Building a Holistic, Community-Based Approach to Treating Substance Use Disorder
In this episode, Brittany Rodriguez from Telligen and Mia Croyle from Superior Health welcome back Sara Jesse, community health manager for public health in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Sara shares some best practices, resources needed, and the steps required to engage the community to create an environment that is conducive to people in recovery.
Episode 11: The Need for Person-Centered Substance use and Mental Health Disorder Treatment in Nursing Homes
In this episode, Brittany Rodriguez from Telligen and Mia Croyle from Superior Health welcome RoseAnna Milanovic, MA, MS, senior quality improvement facilitator at Telligen. RoseAnna shares her work developing nursing home behavioral health programs, which included substance use and opioid use disorder services and training to ensure staff understand how to approach residents with empathy rather than judgment.
Episode 12: Stigma & Individuals with Substance Use Disorder with Sam Quinones
This collaborative event between Telligen and Superior Health Quality Alliance featured journalist and author, Sam Quinones, focusing on reducing stigma for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD). Addressing stigma is an important component of comprehensive care for individuals with substance use disorder.
This event is inspired by stories from the communities featured in the successful podcast series, Shine a Light on Stigma, which was developed by Telligen and Superior Health Quality Alliance in an effort to reduce stigma related to SUD by reframing SUD as a chronic condition and not a moral failing.