Andrea J Yatsco, PhD, CADC, LCDC, is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, and a Certified Clinical Supervisor. Dr. Yatsco received her PhD in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State and wrote her dissertation on the impact of military service on delinquency and substance use over the life course. Her undergraduate work at University of Arizona focused on psychological and sociological predictors of deviant behavior. She has counseled incarcerated populations in Massachusetts and worked with families and adolescent offenders in Vermont. She is a previous adjunct professor at Becker College, teaching curriculum in the undergraduate forensic psychology concentration and developed grant funded substance education. Dr. Yatsco is an Assistant Professor at UT Health Houston working as the Associate Director for clinical research with opioid use disorders at Houston Emergency Opioid Engagement System (HEROES) and related substance use and mental health expansion projects across Texas.
About: This presentation will highlight existing stigma that individuals experience during active use, when seeking treatment, and while in recovery. Demonstrating the value of approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and the role they play in helping the body and mind recover is crucial for successful treatment interventions. Understanding how the medications function and in what context they support recovery journeys increases the legitimacy of medication as a treatment modality. Additionally, advocacy efforts for MOUD and best practices for patient centered care will be presented.