Offering Support with a Harm Reduction Approach (Parts 1 and 2)-Recording Part 1

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video transcript, the speaker, Susan Stalin, introduces a two-part workshop focused on substance use and housing programs that utilize harm reduction approaches. The initial session begins with logistical details, including break times and the support the training has from SAMHSA and the Opioid Response Network.<br /><br />Susan outlines her background in journalism and public health, emphasizing her focus on substance use, overdose prevention, harm reduction services, and recovery support. She mentions her collaboration with her husband, Graham McIndoe, who has a history of addiction and recovery, augmenting her perspectives on these issues.<br /><br />The workshop agenda covers topics like learning about substance use, diagnosing disorders, challenges faced by those experiencing housing instability, and strategies to reduce overdose risks and stigma. Susan engages participants with questions about their sources of information on substance use and reasons people use drugs, highlighting the role of media and personal experiences in shaping perceptions.<br /><br />Key points include the spectrum of substance use, from no use to dependence, as well as the significant treatment gap where only a fraction of people with substance use disorders receive formal treatment. She introduces harm reduction principles, stressing non-judgmental support and respecting individual goals that may not always include immediate abstinence.<br /><br />Participants are educated on the alarming trends in drug use, especially the dangers of fentanyl and xylosine (tranq), and provided practical overdose prevention strategies. Key harm reduction services like syringe service programs and overdose prevention centers are also discussed, with specific mentions of New York City's initiatives.<br /><br />Finally, the workshop touches on the debilitating effects of stigma, strategies for respectful engagement, and resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the CHAMP program for addressing insurance barriers. The session ends with an invitation to the next week's continuation of the training.

Keywords

substance use

housing programs

harm reduction

SAMHSA

Opioid Response Network

overdose prevention

recovery support

fentanyl

xylosine

stigma

syringe service programs

overdose prevention centers

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

CHAMP program