Indiana University’s Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge, in partnership with the School of Nursing is offering two courses to help reduce stigma around substance use disorder.
New courses aim to combat stigma around substance use disorder
Description of the video:
*Music Begins*
[Video: IU Grand Challenge Responding to the Addictions Crisis logo appears]
Ryan Russel Speaks in Voiceover: “I had, had nothing in my life grab me like opiates. Addiction crosses every”
[Video: Ryan and Shawna Russel sitting in church pews speaking to camera corresponding to voiceover.]
[Video: B-roll of Shawna, Ryan, and Reverend Charlo Burrell in a meeting with other group members. Ryan and Shawna sitting in church pews speaking to camera corresponding to voiceover. Close-up b-roll of Charlo.]
Ryan Russel Speaks in Voiceover: “Addiction crosses every socio-economic, racial class, ethnic line that you could ever imagine. No matter where you are in life or who you are in life, whatever it may be could grab you before you know it.”
Jessica Hawn Speaks in voiceover: “I struggled with a little bit of postpartum depression when my daughter was born. I was put on nerve pills. it didn't take very long and I was taking them more than what I was supposed to and then eventually stronger pain pills, stronger pain pills, which led to heroin. I didn't just wake up one morning and say, okay I'm gonna ruin the rest of my life today.”
[Video: Jessica sitting in home speaking to camera corresponding to voiceover. B-roll of Jessica doing dishes. Jessica sitting in home speaking to camera corresponding to voiceover. B-roll of Jessica looking out window then looks into camera.]
Josh Graves Speaks in Voiceover: “It hurts when you know what you've been through and people still call you worthless. You're just a junkie, you're better off dead. I know that I've done a lot of bad things, but it also kept me away from wanting to try to better myself.”
[Video: B-roll of Josh driving, walking into Safe Haven Recovery Management Center. Josh talking to camera corresponding to voice over. B-roll of Josh in his office on his computer at Safe Haven.]
Brea Perry Speaks in Voiceover: “Stigma is defined as a deeply discrediting attribute. And the process of stigmatization is a social one where people who have a particular condition are devalued. Stigma is a major barrier to treatment seeking there's the shame and the secrecy which causes people to not seek treatment when they need it.”
[Video: Brea speaking to camera corresponding to voiceover. B-roll of Josh meeting with someone at Safe Haven.]
Reverend Charlo Burrell Speaks in Voiceover: “I've been sober since May the 15th of 1998. I'm a licensed addiction counselor also. Society labels alcoholics or addicts as these voodoo types of people it's the stigma that goes along with it. When I became educated about it, it took away from me that I was a failure. It's not one person, not one, that I can meet that I don't believe that can have a chance.”
[Video: B-roll of Charlo in his office at the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. B-roll of Charlo with others in a meeting in the church. Charlo sitting in church pews talking to camera corresponding to voiceover. B-roll of group members meeting in church.]
Image of Sample Gates comes up with text: "Indiana University's Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge's "In This Together" courses aim to reduce stigma around substance use disorder."
"Online courses:
Are available to the public at no cost
Provide resources to community members and medical professionals
Made possible through the Commission for the Higher Education of the state of Indiana
Learn more at: addictions.iu.edu/news/stigma-courses.html"
[Video: Indiana University logo fades in and then fades to black]
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The online courses, made possible through a grant from the Commission for Higher Education of the State of Indiana, CARES Mental Health Programs, are available to the public at no cost. The courses are an extension of the Grand Challenge’s In This Together project, which serves as a community resource for those wanting to learn more about the topic of substance use disorder and how to make a difference in the lives of Hoosiers and those throughout the country.
So far, more than 1,600 people have taken the courses.
"We are excited for the opportunity to offer these courses in which we provide nurses with essential information on substance use disorder and ways we, as a community, can effectively address this issue," said Robin Newhouse, dean of the School of Nursing IUPUI and lead investigator for IU’s Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge. "Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to people seeking treatment for this disease. Through conversation and courses like these, we hope to help eliminate stigma and assist one of our most vulnerable populations in receiving the support they need."
The first course, "In This Together: Community Conversations to Reduce Stigma of Substance Use Disorder," fosters individual reflection and community discussions. The course has two tracks: trainer and individual learner. The trainer course provides education and guidelines for those interested in educating others around substance use issues and stigma. The second course is for those who would like to educate themselves more on the issue.
The course can be found online. Each student who completes the course will receive a certificate of attendance. A student may complete one or both tracks.
The second course, "Substance Use Disorders: An Introduction for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals," is aimed at nurses in Indiana and throughout the country and enhances participants' understanding of nursing practices related to substance use disorders and addiction.
The course can be found online. Upon completion of the course, a certificate will be awarded the participant.
Anyone with questions about the courses may contact Susan McIlwain, addictions specialist, family nurse practitioner and Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge team member, at smcilwai@iu.edu or Lisa Fukuda, operations manager, at ldfukuda@iu.edu.
These courses are made possible through work by the IU’s Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge, the IU School of Nursing and the Commission for Higher Education of the State of Indiana.
Responding to the Addictions Crisis
The Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge initiative engages a broad array of IU's world-class faculty, as well as IU's business, nonprofit and government partners. Working together, the groups are contributing to an initiative to implement a comprehensive plan to reduce deaths from addiction, ease the burden of drug addiction on Hoosier communities and improve health and economic outcomes. This initiative is one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive state-based responses to the opioid addiction crisis -- and the largest led by a university.